TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Ashford International Station

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on the closure of Ashford International Station on the weekend of the France v. England rugby match in Paris; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: My understanding is that the possible closure of Ashford over this weekend has yet to be confirmed, and that, currently, the station is scheduled to be open on Saturday 2 March, although possibly closed on the Friday and Sunday. These timings are provisional and therefore subject to change.
	Although occasional weekend closures are an inevitable consequence of the essential work for the channel tunnel rail link (CTLR) currently being undertaken at and around Ashford, the timing of this particular closure, if confirmed, is particularly unfortunate. I therefore propose to raise the matter with the company building the link, Union Railways.
	The CTLR project itself remains on time and on budget and when section 1 opens in 2003 the people of Kent will of course benefit from improved international rail services on a purpose-built high-speed line that will free up capacity on existing track.

Wind Power

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to simplify the process by which a wind turbine deployer may achieve planning consent in a commercially viable time-frame.

Sally Keeble: We already promote a positive approach to planning for all types of renewable energy projects. We have initiated the preparation of regional renewable energy assessments to encourage a more strategic approach to planning for renewable energy at regional and local levels, which will help to facilitate planning permission for individual proposals.
	Our Planning Green Paper published on 12 December 2001 includes proposals to deliver faster and more responsive planning decisions across the board. One element of this approach is to encourage developers to discuss proposals with local people and local planning authorities before applications for planning permission are submitted. I strongly commend this to those seeking permission for wind turbines and other renewable energy projects.

Empty Properties

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last four years.

Alan Whitehead: This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

Sustainable Development

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how the proposals in the Planning Green Paper will deliver sustainable development; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The consultation document "Planning: delivering a fundamental change" states in paragraph 1.2
	"we need good planning to deliver development that is sustainable and which creates better places in which people can live and work". The Green Paper proposes to create a better, faster and fairer planning system with sustainability at its heart.

Housing (Birmingham)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the average change in annual revenue available for financing investment in Birmingham's housing revenue account as a result of the Government's rent restructuring proposals, based on (a) the continuation of the current subsidy system and (b) the abolition of the council tenant's tax.

Sally Keeble: Local authorities are responsible for setting their own rents and budgets—including the resources to be devoted to investment—based on local priorities and other factors. There is no council tenant's tax.

Housing (Birmingham)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answers of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 573W, on housing (Birmingham), what his definition of debt financing charges is.

Sally Keeble: The figures I provided in my previous answer related to the amount the Department made available to Birmingham in housing revenue account subsidy towards the administration costs of managing its debt finance. We do not have figures for the cost to Birmingham city council of servicing their housing attributable debt.

Housing (Birmingham)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has collated on housing management costs per dwelling for (a) all local authority housing, (b) all RSL housing, (c) all metropolitan authority housing, (d) Birmingham city council housing and (e) RSL housing in Birmingham.

Sally Keeble: On the basis of the definition used for the purposes of best value and Audit Commission Performance Indicators for 2000–01, the average annual management cost per dwelling for all local authorities in England was £654. The average for all metropolitan authority housing was £496 and the average for Birmingham city council housing was £634. The Housing Corporation produces figures for the RSL sector. The average annual management cost per dwelling for the largest 400 English RSLs in 2000–01 was £536. No figures are available for all RSL housing in Birmingham.

Housing (Birmingham)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to (a) Birmingham city council's non-HRA revenue budget and (b) the Exchequer of financing housing benefit for Birmingham tenants if transfer of the local authority housing stock to a registered social landlord goes ahead.

Sally Keeble: The estimated housing benefit cost over three years to be contributed from Birmingham city council's general fund is £17.14 million.
	The estimated Exchequer contribution to housing benefit cost for Birmingham tenants if transfer of the local authority housing stock to registered social landlord goes ahead is £63.63 million over 30 years.

Housing (Loans)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has collated on the interest rates for loans taken out by registered social landlords in each of the last five years.

Sally Keeble: Information of this detail is held by the Housing Corporation only on a commercial in confidence basis.

Road Accidents

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of road accidents, broken down by type of (a) accident, (b) injury and (c) victim, of the operation of (i) mandatory and (ii) advisory 20 mph limits.

David Jamieson: TRL research on urban speed management methods published in 1998 (TRL Report 363) found only an average 1 mph drop in speeds and no discernible accident reduction in accidents in 20 mph limits using only signs. Advisory speed limits are not normally approved in England and Wales. However, the more successful 20 mph zones that use self enforcing traffic calming features achieved average speed reductions of around 10 mph which produced a 70 per cent. reduction in child pedestrian accidents and a 48 per cent. reduction in child cyclist accidents.

Ordnance Survey Trading Fund

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what return (a) he has specified as a target for the Ordnance Survey Trading Fund over the period from 1999 to 2004 and (b) the Ordnance Survey Trading Fund has delivered in each accounting year from 1999 to date.

Sally Keeble: The Ordnance Survey Framework document states in a Treasury minute dated 29 March 1999, that the financial objective desirable of achievement by Ordnance Survey Trading Fund for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004 shall be to achieve a return averaged over the period as a whole of at least 9 per cent, in the form of a surplus on ordinary activities before interest expressed as a percentage of average capital employed.
	The return on capital employed for each of the years in question is as follows:
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Profit (£ million) 12.5 (1)27.3 
			 Capital employed (£ million) 45.1 68.7 
			 Return on capital employed (per cent.) 27.6 39.6 
		
	
	(1) Includes an exceptional payment of £19.25 million received from the Automobile Association (AA)
	Over the two years, 1999–2000 and 2000–01, the average return on capital employed was 33.5 per cent., including the exceptional item in 2000–01.

Private Finance Initiative Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total external spend by his Department was on Private Finance Initiative consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: The specific information about the use of consultants to advise on PFI projects can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I have placed in the Library a list of the consultancy firms employed by DTLR, its executive agencies and sponsored bodies.

Affordable Housing

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for the number of affordable housing units in rural settlements; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2002, Official Report, columns 975–76W, on affordable housing, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the underlying trend in the number of affordable housing units in rural settlements with a population of 3,000 or less; and if he will list them.

Sally Keeble: The amount of new affordable housing built in recent years has declined because of reductions suffered by the Housing Corporation's capital programme in the mid-1990s, and a rapid increase in scheme costs.
	In the 2000 Spending Review we provided significant additional resources for housing: the Housing Corporation's approved development programme will almost double to over £1.2 billion by 2003–04; and we have doubled the Corporation's programme for affordable housing in small rural settlements (with less than 3,000 people) from 800 in 2000–01 to 1,600 homes a year by 2003–04, with 1,100 homes in 2001–02.
	As announced in the Rural White Paper, we expect 9,000 affordable homes to be delivered annually in rural districts by 2003–04 through Housing Corporation and local authority funding and by judicious use of planning powers.

Affordable Housing

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 975–76W, on affordable housing, if he will list the number of affordable housing units in rural settlements by region in each year since 1990.

Sally Keeble: I will write to the hon. Member with a regional breakdown for England of the number of affordable housing units in rural settlements (with a population of 3,000 or less) funded by the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme and through local authority social housing grant since 1991–92.
	Information for 1990–91 is not available, and information about the number of affordable housing units completed through the planning system without public subsidy is not held centrally.

Affordable Housing

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many affordable housing units were provided by local authorities through local authority funding in rural settlements in each year since 1990.

Sally Keeble: I will send the hon. Member a table showing affordable housing units in rural settlements in England with a population of 3,000 or less funded by local authorities through local authority social housing grant since 1991–92.
	Information for 1990–91 is not available.

Safety Bill

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects his proposed safety Bill to be presented to the House.

Alan Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 19 October 2001, Official Report, column 1364W.

Railway Safety

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) warning letters and (b) enforcement notices have been given by the Health and Safety Executive to (i) Railtrack and (ii) train operating companies for each year since 1995–96; and if he will provide details of each such letter or notice.

David Jamieson: The information on the number of warning letters could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of enforcement notices (prohibition and improvement) issued on the railway industry by HSE are:
	
		
			   Railtrack TOCs 
		
		
			 1995–96 17 7 
			 1996–97 10 11 
			 1997–98 7 22 
			 1998–99 7 14 
			 1999–2000 18 28 
			 2000–01 25 26 
			 2001–02(2) 40 34 
		
	
	(2) Up to 31 January 2002
	Details of enforcement notices could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Railway Safety

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list the prosecutions of train operating companies by the Health and Safety Executive for failure to meet targets for reducing the incidents of signals passed at danger in each year since 1995–96;
	(2)  if he will list the prosecutions of Railtrack by the Health and Safety Executive for failure to meet targets for improvements to signals to reduce incidents of signals passed at danger in each year since 1995–96.

David Jamieson: There have been no such prosecutions for failure to meet such targets.

Organ Donation

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what action he is taking to encourage councils to include organ donor registration forms in their electoral registration form;
	(2)  how many councils include organ donor registration forms in their electoral registration form.

Alan Whitehead: While it is the responsibility of each electoral registration officer (ERO) to decide what additional literature to include when issuing electoral registration forms, we asked the Association of Electoral Administrators, prior to the canvass in October 2000, to encourage EROs to include organ donation literature. Information about how many EROs do this is not collected.

Electoral Register

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to allow local authorities to make the electoral register available for commercial purposes.

Alan Whitehead: We intend to publish shortly a paper setting out the Government's intentions for regulations making provision, with effect from the 2002 canvass, about the sale of electoral registers to commercial organisations. Under current legislation, in the light of a recent High Court judgment, electoral registration officers must continue to sell registers, but when selling to commercial organisations must in general exclude the particulars of electors who have objected to their details being included in such cases.

Associated British Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason a civil servant from his Department accompanied Associated British Ports to a meeting with the Tug Company Adstream UK Ltd. on 11 January.

David Jamieson: An official from my Department was visiting the harbour authority on 11 January as part of the Department's monitoring to confirm the assurances which have been given by the harbour authority that the safe operation of the Humber ports will not be affected by the dispute with the Humber pilots. He found that the harbour master was due to attend a meeting with the tug company, tug skippers and crew representatives; and it was agreed by all the parties that his attendance would enable the Department to know first hand of any safety concerns relating to the tug operation.

Metropolitan Line

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many delays were caused by technical faults of (a) signals and points and (b) trains on the Metropolitan line in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: For the number of delays caused by signals and points failures on the Metropolitan line in each of the last five years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) on 18 July 2001, Official Report, column 197W.
	For the number of delays attributed to problems with rolling stock on the Metropolitan line over the same period, I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Thomas) on 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 570W.

School Crossing Patrols

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures he is undertaking to help local authorities recruit school crossing patrols; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My Department is grant-aiding the update of the guidelines for local authorities on the management and operation of the school crossing patrols that was produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association. I hope this will address any general problems associated with the recruitment and retention of people to provide this valued service.

School Run

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills concerning the effect on traffic congestion of private car transport of pupils to and from school; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My officials are in regular contact with officials from DfES in the context of the School Travel Advisory Group. The group was set up by the then Transport, Education and Health Ministers in December 1998 to advise on ways to reduce car use and improve safety for children on the journey to school. We have published guides and introduced a new programme of advice and support to assist local authorities and schools in promoting more sustainable school travel.

Road Safety (Commercial Drivers)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with operators of commercial fleets and other bodies on the level of road crashes involving their vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Department meets and corresponds with representatives of operators of commercial fleets and others on a regular basis on a wide range of issues. The Work-related Road Safety Task Group consulted the industry and its representatives last year on at-work road safety issues. The task group's report was published on 22 November 2001 and the Government are now considering the recommendations.

Road Safety (Commercial Drivers)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent studies he has commissioned to establish the number of road crashes involving company driven vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Work-related Road Safety Task Group considered the nature and scale of at-work road traffic incidents. The group commissioned research by the Business Strategy Group and their report, published on 22 November 2001, summarises the findings of that and other related research projects. The report may be viewed on the Health and Safety Executive's website at www.house.gov.uk/road/content.traffic1/pdf. Details of the research are set out in Annexe 3.

Road Safety (Commercial Drivers)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it a requirement for drivers of company cars and vans to undertake additional driver training; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Government support high quality training for all drivers and are working with the training industry to ensure that those offering the training have the right skills. We have no plans to introduce compulsory training for company car or van drivers.

Road Safety (Commercial Drivers)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will apply to drivers of company cars and vans the safety time limits for driving applied to heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: There are no plans for legislation to restrict the number of driving hours by company car users. Drivers of goods vehicles under 3.5 tonnes operate under the UK domestic drivers' hours legislation as they are specifically exempted from European Union (EU) drivers' hours rules.
	We announced plans in the Transport White Paper to consult on the possible repeal of the UK drivers' hours rules, in favour of the EU rules. Unfortunately these plans had to be put on hold pending the outcome of discussions on the draft EU directive extending working time limits to mobile workers in the road transport industry. While the terms of this directive have now been agreed and are expected to be published in April, there is now a draft European Commission proposal to amend the EU drivers' hours rules themselves on which we have just gone out to consultation.

Contracts (KPMG)

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what contracts his Department has with KPMG; and what the value is of each one.

Alan Whitehead: There are currently seven contracts the Department has with KPMG, which are listed as follows; the total value is £2,970,759.00.
	(1) The Next Generation Accounting System Project
	(2) London Transport Statutory Audit
	(3) London Transport Grant Audit
	(4) Support for Business Improvement (Highways Agency)
	(5) Assessing the Impact of the Housing Green Paper Rent Policies on Individual Housing Associations
	(6) First Stage Review of English Partnerships
	(7) Guidance on Commercial Conversions and the Re-use of Empty Houses.
	I am unable to provide individual values for each contract, as the information is deemed commercially sensitive.

Marine Pollution (Shoreline Clean-ups)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  how much funding has been awarded by central Government to local authorities to cover the implementation of plans to undertake shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to introduce a statutory duty on coastal local authorities to (a) plan for and (b) undertake shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents as part of the review of emergency planning legislation; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much has been spent by local authorities in (a) setting up plans to undertake shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents and (b) cleaning up shorelines following marine pollution incidents in each of the last 10 years;
	(4)  what representations he has received concerning the introduction of a statutory duty on coastal local authorities to (a) plan for and (b) undertake shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  how many coastal local authorities have implemented a voluntary plan for undertaking shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents; and if he will provide a list of those local authorities;
	(6)  how much funding has been requested by local authorities to cover the implementation of plans to undertake shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents in each of the last 10 years.

David Jamieson: My Department recognises the importance of the role of coastal local authorities in preparing and maintaining contingency plans for responding to shoreline pollution following marine pollution incidents, and in carrying out that response. Since the beginning of 1998, my Department has received representations concerning the introduction of a statutory duty on coastal local authorities to plan for or undertake shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents from: Aberdeenshire council, Ceredigion county council, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Devon county council, Dumfries and Galloway council, Dundee city council, Fife council, KIMO (Kommunenes Internasjonale Milj organisasjon), the Local Government Association, Pembrokeshire county council, Purbeck district council, Shetland Islands council, South Ayrshire council and the Tyne and Wear Emergency Planning Unit. This is a subject which falls within the scope of the Cabinet Office's ongoing review of "The Future of Emergency Planning in England and Wales", and specifically that review's proposal that existing emergency planning legislation be replaced with a new statutory duty for emergency planning, and my Department has made an input to that review. The result of the review is awaited.
	The information requested about coastal local authorities which have implemented contingency plans on a voluntary basis has been placed in the Libraries of the House, in the form of a list compiled by my Department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency, using data collected in January 2001 (and which are being updated presently). Information about the amount of funding which local authorities have requested to cover the implementation of plans to undertake shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents, and the amounts which local authorities have spent on setting up plans to undertake shoreline clean-ups following marine pollution incidents and on cleaning up shorelines following marine pollution incidents, is not held centrally. No specific grants have been made covering the implementation of shoreline clean-up plans following a marine pollution incident. My Department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency does, however, annually provide training courses for local authority officers on oil pollution contingency planning and response, and shorter courses on oil spill response, at no cost to the local authorities involved.

Aircraft Seats

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation requiring companies advertising airline flights to provide information about the size of the pitch of the aircraft's seats in their advertisements.

David Jamieson: The Government have no plans at present to introduce such legislation.
	The voluntary European Airline Passenger Service Commitment, to which all UK airlines operating long haul scheduled or charter services are signatories, includes a commitment to make information on seat pitch available to passengers on request. The European Airline Passenger Service Commitment will take effect from 14 February 2002.
	To improve the information available to passengers my Department is working with the Civil Aviation Authority and the airlines to ensure a common public understanding of the phrase "seat pitch".

Non-departmental Public Bodies

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the instances in which his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period in the financial year 2000–01.

Alan Whitehead: The total number of invoices paid by my department and its agencies in 2000–01, and the numbers paid late, based on the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions structure in place at 31 March 2001, are shown in the table. Listings of individual invoices paid late, and information in respect of non-departmental public bodies, are not held centrally.
	
		
			  Invoices paid 2000–01 Number of invoices paid Number of invoices paid late  Percentage paid late 
		
		
			 DETR(C) 76,241 1,868 2.45 
			 Driving Standards Agency 31,357 249 0.79 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 22,456 445 1.98 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 2,604 43 1.65 
			 Vehicle Inspectorate 36,896 384 1.04 
			 Highways Agency 100,288 4,383 4.37 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 30,863 132 0.43 
			 Planning Inspectorate 9,349 350 3.74 
			 QEII Conference Centre 3,208 7 0.22 
			 The Rent Service 22,701 835 3.68 
			  
			 Total 335,965 8,696 2.59

Theft and Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional security measures are planned by his Department to deter and detect theft and fraud.

Alan Whitehead: The Department takes its responsibility to minimise losses due to theft or fraud very seriously. It has a fraud response plan, based on the Treasury model, which it keeps under regular review. It issues periodic reminders to staff about the plan and related matters.
	All incidents are reviewed for lessons about improved control and investigations are initiated whenever appropriate.
	No additional security measures are judged necessary at the present time.

St. Kevin's Playing Fields, Kirkby

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 62W, if new proposals for St. Kevin's Playing Fields in Kirkby which are (a) at variance with the local urban development plan, (b) at variance with the planning inspector's recommendations and (c) materially different in other substantial ways, will be treated as a wholly new application; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: It is for Knowsley metropolitan borough council as the responsible local planning authority for the area and in this case as applicant to decide whether their proposals for the site have changed to such an extent that a fresh planning application should be made.

Asylum Centre (Throckmorton)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what planning permissions will need to be granted by which authorities to permit the development of an asylum accommodation centre on Ministry of Defence land at Throckmorton, Worcestershire.

Sally Keeble: Development by the Crown, including Government Departments, does not require planning permission. Development is undertaken under the non- statutory arrangements set out in Part IV of the Memorandum attached to DOE Circular 18/84. The developing Department must serve a Notice of Proposed Development on the local planning authority. If the local planning authority objects to the proposal and the objections cannot be resolved by negotiation, the developing Department must refer the proposals to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for his determination. To enable him to reach a decision the Secretary of State will either ask for written representations or institute a non-statutory public inquiry.
	If a Government Department is proposing to dispose of land in anticipation of development of that land by another, non-Crown body, it may apply for planning permission under section 299 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Development undertaken on Crown land by a private body requires planning permission in the normal way.

Local Authority Rents

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the level of council house rent rises was in each year since 1991 to 2001 in (a) real and (b) percentage terms, in each local authority in descending order.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 30 January 2002
	A table showing the annual change (actual and percentage) in the level of local authority weekly rents for each year from 1991–92 to 2001–02 has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The local authorities are ranked in descending order, with the local authority with the biggest cumulative increase in council rent over the period 1990–91 to 2001–02—Barking and Dagenham—at the top.
	It should be noted that between April 1990 and April 2001 the retail prices index rose by 38.4 per cent. Since only the last two local authorities in this table (Redbridge and Bournemouth) saw an overall rise in rents of less than 38.4 per cent, in all other authorities the "real" rise in council rents over the period 1990–91 to 2001–02 has been positive.
	Note that the only local authorities shown in this table are those that existed both in 1990–91 and in 2001–02 and did not undergo any significant boundary changes during the intervening years.
	Local authorities that existed in 1990–91 but have since transferred their stock to housing associations (registered social landlords) have been omitted.

Parliamentary Questions (PFI)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many written parliamentary questions regarding private finance initiatives have been tabled since 1 January 2000; and in how many of these information was not provided on the grounds of commercial confidentiality.

Alan Whitehead: The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions was formed on 8 June 2001. In the period 8 June 2001 to 30 January 2002, my Department responded to 191 parliamentary questions tabled about private finance initiatives and similar public private partnerships. Of these, five responses did not provide information on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the hon. Member for West Chelmsford can expect a reply to the letter he sent on 4 September 2001 from Mr. R. Black of the Chelmsford Area Access Group.

Sally Keeble: I wrote to the hon. Member on 29 January.

Speeding Signs (Bredhurst)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when his Department will grant authorisation for the installation of interactive speeding signs in Bredhurst village, near Sittingbourne, Kent.

Sally Keeble: Kent county council as the Highway Authority has responsibility for the main roads, Forge Lane and The Street, that flow through Bredhurst village. KCC took part in a pilot scheme with the Transport Research Laboratory for testing interactive speeding signs and a programme for installation of an extended pilot scheme covering a further 15 signs has been agreed on. Bredhurst is not included in that extension.

Public Services

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that district authorities have the flexibility to fund and deliver high quality public services to local people which the Government have called for.

Nick Raynsford: I can confirm that, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush (Mr. Soley) on 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 137, we have improved the terms of the minimum grant increase for 2002–03 guaranteed to shire district councils.
	We have done this by introducing an alternative baseline for 2001–02, which, in effect, adjusts only for the transfers of service for which shire districts are responsible. In order to guarantee a minimum 2.3 per cent. increase for shire districts, we will give each district whichever increase is greater: 2.3 per cent. on the original fully adjusted baseline, or 2.3 per cent. on the alternative.
	Districts will also benefit from the package of measures announced in the Local Government White Paper and designed to enable all councils to deliver improvements in public services. In particular, there are proposals to assist district councils to build their corporate capacity, encouragement for greater county and district collaboration, including in local PSAs, and additional freedoms which will be available to high performing districts in due course. Districts will also benefit from the deregulation proposals, the streamlining of best value and the move to a more proportionate approach to inspection.

Local Government Finance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that the new grant formula that will replace SSA will be fairer and simpler and address the needs of all classes of authority.

Nick Raynsford: The Government are working closely with local government to develop simpler and fairer grant formulae. We will consider the cases of all classes of authority in taking decisions on the new system.

Highways Agency

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Highways Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 2000–01 will be published; and what results it will report.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency 2000–01 annual report will be published today under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. In the year, the agency met all but one of its eight ministerial targets, missing the final target by only a very narrow margin. The agency also managed its expenditure within its budget, resulting in a very small underspend of 0.6 per cent. A copy of the report will be placed in the House Library.

Merseyrail

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the Merseyrail passenger franchise.

John Spellar: The Merseyrail franchise operates on a network of lines which are almost entirely separate, physically and operationally, from the rest of the national rail network. The current franchise expires in February 2003. Merseytravel (the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive and Passenger Transport Authority) has brought forward proposals to take Merseyrail services outside the franchising process operated by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), leaving the way open for Merseytravel to offer a local concession (in effect, similar to a franchise) for these services. Having discussed the proposals in detail with both the SRA and Merseytravel I have it in mind to support this approach which will provide local control over this unique local network and will help bring much needed improvements for passengers.
	I accordingly intend, after consultation, to seek the House's approval to an Order under the Railways Act 1993, which will enable the new arrangements to be given effect. In the meantime the SRA will continue to work with Merseytravel on the future of these services.

Listed Buildings

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers (a) local authorities, (b) English Heritage and (c) other agencies have to require owners of listed buildings to maintain their exterior appearance.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	Local authorities and the Secretary of State have powers under section 48 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to require owners of listed buildings to carry out works which are considered to be reasonably necessary for the proper preservation of a listed building. Under section 54 of the Act, local authorities have powers to execute works which appear to be urgently necessary for the preservation of unoccupied listed buildings. The Secretary of State also has powers under section 54 of the Act to authorise English Heritage to carry out such repairs on her behalf. No other agencies have statutory powers concerning listed buildings.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Rural Communities

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to support village shops, pubs and post offices in rural communities.

Alun Michael: Ensuring that people in rural areas have access to essential services such as village shops, pubs and post offices is a key theme of the Government's Rural White Paper strategy. Since we published the White Paper a year ago we have implemented a range of measures and provided extra funding to boost these basic services to rural communities. The details are provided in "England's Rural Future", which I published in December and placed in the Library of the House.

Rural Communities

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support is given by the European Commission to rural communities in disadvantaged areas of the UK.

Alun Michael: There are many ways in which this Government help support disadvantaged rural communities. Not all of them are European funded, but the European Commission finance the following programmes, with additional match funding from the Government:
	The England Rural Development Programme which supports schemes to help and encourage farming, forestry and other rural businesses and communities to adapt to changing circumstances and to create a productive and sustainable rural economy.
	Structural Funds (Objective 1) funding is available in certain areas (Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Merseyside and South Yorkshire) to promote similar measures to the ERDP. However, because these areas are defined by the Commission as being of greater need, the rates of grant are slightly higher.
	Leader+ assists local action groups (which could include farmers, rural villages, rural businesses, local authorities, parish councils and voluntary organisations) in improving the quality of life and economic prosperity in their area through innovative approaches to sustainable rural development.
	A more extensive list of sources of funding—both European and domestic—together with advice for rural businesses and communities can be found in Annexe 1 of the Rural White Paper—"Our Countryside: the future, a fair deal for rural England", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

Foot and Mouth

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live sheep were exported from the UK in the last year for which figures are available before the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: According to our computer system used to issue export health certificates, 2,282 breeding sheep, 627,566 fattening sheep and 2,590 slaughter sheep were certified for export from the UK during 2000. The computer system also shows that during the period 1 January to 20 February 2001, seven breeding sheep, 86,900 fattening sheep and 703 slaughter sheep were certified for export from the UK. The figures for sheep exported from Northern Ireland to Ireland are not available.
	These figures may be subject to updating and amendment.

Foot and Mouth

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the losses incurred by farmers through the OTMS due to restrictions on movements during the foot and mouth epidemic.

Elliot Morley: The over-30-months scheme (OTMS) delivers some £240 million per annum in payments to beef and dairy farmers. Farmers will have incurred losses arising from additional costs of keeping cattle, delays in sales receipts and, any differences between prices actually received and those which would otherwise have been obtained. However, there are no statistics available to identify the number of cattle that entered the OTMS scheme as a result of movement restrictions and therefore it is not possible to quantify any losses.

Refrigerators and Freezers (Recycling)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recycling of refrigerators and freezers.

Michael Meacher: There are number of options for dealing with waste fridges that are already in place, including re-use, export within Europe, high temperature incineration and storage. Investors are in the process of providing a network of new recycling facilities in the United Kingdom. I understand that the first new facilities are likely to be operational in the spring.

Refrigerators and Freezers (Recycling)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the development of new recycling plants for refrigerators and freezers.

Michael Meacher: Investors are in the process of providing a network of new recycling facilities in the United Kingdom. I understand that the first new facilities are likely to be operational in the spring.

River Severn

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of climate change upon the risk of flooding of the River Severn.

Elliot Morley: In 1995 MAFF sponsored research at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, which considered the impact of climate and land use change on the Severn and Thames river basins. This was used as the basis for subsequent national guidance published in 2000. The Environment Agency is currently carrying out further studies to develop a strategy for the Severn and a Catchment Flood Management Plan, both of which will give further consideration to the potential impacts of climate change.

Energy Efficiency

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's plans for improving energy efficiency.

Michael Meacher: The Government are committed to the importance of energy efficiency as a highly cost-effective way of achieving our climate change goals, for example through the climate change agreements, the energy efficiency commitment, our forthcoming CHP Strategy, and our support of the Carbon Trust and Energy Saving Trust. We recognise that a great unrealised potential still remains and the Department will develop new strategies for realising this in the future.

Recycling

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to promote Europea-wide measures to encourage recycling.

Michael Meacher: The Government support the Common Position on the Sixth Environmental Action Programme, which calls on the Commission to develop thematic strategies on the sustainable use and management of resources and on waste recycling. This will include measures aimed at ensuring the collection and recycling of priority waste streams.

Air Quality

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by her Department on improving air quality since 1997.

Michael Meacher: Good progress has been made since 1997 in improving urban air quality in the UK, although we still need to do more if we are to achieve all of the objectives in our Air Quality Strategy. The improvements are, in large part, the result of the actions we have taken to reduce emissions from road transport and industry.

EU Enlargement (Poland)

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent contact she has had with her Polish counterparts regarding the agricultural chapter of Poland's EU enlargement application.

Margaret Beckett: I visited Poland on 13 and 14 January and had one-to-one meetings with the Agriculture Minister and the Environment Minister. I encouraged Poland to play an active and constructive part in preparing itself for EU membership, congratulated the Government on reaching a conclusion on the environment chapter and stressed the importance of maintaining the implementation and enforcement programme.

Combined Heat and Power

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to encourage the development of new sources of CHP.

Michael Meacher: The Department is developing, in close collaboration with DTI and other Departments, a draft CHP strategy, which will set out the measures needed to achieve the CHP target of at least 10,000 mega watts of Good Quality CHP by 2010. We aim to issue the Strategy for consultation shortly.

Rural Pubs

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to support rural pubs.

Alun Michael: Public houses can act as important community assets in rural areas, sometimes offering a range of products and essential services to the local community. Since we published the Rural White Paper a year ago we have implemented a range of measures and provided extra funding to support rural pubs and other village services. Through the Countryside Agency we encourage mutual support between various services in rural areas—including post offices, village halls, local shops and pubs—to help improve their chances of remaining viable.

Live Animal Transport

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she proposes to take to reduce the length of journeys of livestock to slaughter.

Elliot Morley: This is a matter that will be considered when the European Commission produces its proposals for changes to the present EU rules on the protection of animals during transport.

Organic Food

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Government policy towards the production of organic food for children.

Elliot Morley: We wish to secure the success of organic farming and will be looking at all aspects of the organic food market in the organics action plan which I have announced.

Organic Food

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the proportion of organically produced food consumed in (a) the UK and (b) other EU countries which is imported; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: UK producers' share of the organic market varies widely between different products but it is estimated that overall imports account for about 70 to 80 per cent. of the value of organic food sold in the UK. We do not have information on the position in other EU countries.
	The relatively low overall share of the organic market supplied by UK producers is one of the issues to be addressed in the action plan for organic farming announced at the end of last year.

Organic Food

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will outline the subsidies available to encourage farmers to become organic farmers; and what subsidies are available in other EU member states.

Elliot Morley: Under the England Rural Development Programme, support is granted over five years at varying amounts depending on the type of land for conversion to organic farming. Total payments over five years range from £50 to £450 per hectare. In addition, farmers are offered three lump sum payments totally £600 towards the cost of training.
	The Organic Conversion Information Service provides free on-farm advice to prospective organic farmers to assist them to evaluate suitability of their farms for organic production methods.
	Information about support in other member states of the Community is available at www.organic-europe.net

Organic Food

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what (a) regional and (b) local strategies her Department is pursuing to inform consumers about the availability of organic produce; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what she is doing to promote the use of organic food produce among other Government Departments; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: We have already made considerable support available to encourage conversion to organic farming, which has increased the quantities of UK organic produce available. The Action Plan for organic farming, which we will be developing with stakeholders in the light of the recommendations of the Policy Commission, will address all aspects of the organic food market.

Genetically Modified Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures will be taken this year to consult local communities over the locations of farm scale evaluations of GM crops.

Michael Meacher: The Department will announce the proposed sites for the spring 2002 farm scale evaluations six weeks before the first seeds will be sown, to allow people more time to find out about the FSEs in their area. Advice and information will be provided to all relevant councils. Farmers participating in the evaluations have been encouraged to discuss their plans with their neighbours.

Industrial Action

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the industrial action in her Department.

Elliot Morley: The current industrial action by staff in the Department who are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) began on 20 August 2001. Since that date 16,201 working days have been lost due to strike action.
	A revised pay offer was made on 10 January 2002 and the PCS suspended all industrial action on 11 January. Negotiations are continuing with a view to an early settlement.

New Electricity Trading Arrangements

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the operations of NETA in relation to (a) CHP and (b) renewables.

Michael Meacher: NETA is a matter for Ofgem and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. I have met the CHP industry, including the Combined Heat and Power Association on a number of occasions, and at these meetings have heard first hand the effect NETA is having on CHP generators. I have not received representations on the operation of NETA in relation to renewables.

Parrett Catchment Project

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Parrett Catchment Project.

Elliot Morley: I welcome the holistic view taken in this study which has involved creation of an effective local partnership and identified a number of options for future flood management. DEFRA stands ready to help in any way we can within the terms and conditions of the relevant support schemes. Funding has been allocated to the Environment Agency for the development of a Catchment Flood Management Plan (one of five national pilot plans) to determine the most effective approaches to flood risk management for this complex catchment.

Rural Post Offices

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the state of sub-post offices in rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Countryside Agency has investigated the provision of post offices in its triennial surveys of service provision in rural areas. The agency's Rural Services Survey 2000 reported a continued decline in post offices. 93.5 per cent. of rural households live within 2 km (1.25 miles) of a post office, between 1997 and 2000 546 rural post offices closed. A range of initiatives have been introduced by Post Office Ltd. to prevent avoidable closures in rural areas, while initiatives from the Countryside Agency include encouraging mutual support between post office and other services to help improve their chances of remaining viable.

Landfill Tax

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role her Department is playing in the review of the landfill tax credit scheme; and what her objectives are for the review.

Michael Meacher: In the pre-Budget report the Government stated that they were attracted to replacing all or part of the LTCS with a public spending programme to direct resources towards Government priorities on sustainable waste management. The Government are soon to consult on the future of the scheme and the Department is one of those helping to develop that consultation paper.

Sellafield

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on what assessments have been conducted of the potential (a) environmental, (b) economic and (c) social impacts of the manufacture of MOX fuel at Sellafield.

Margaret Beckett: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I announced on 3 October 2001 that we had decided that the manufacture of MOX fuel is "justified" under the terms of the Euratom basic safety standards directive. The decision document which we issued on that day dealt with these and other relevant issues, and referred to earlier work in particular that undertaken by the Environment Agency, PA Consulting and A. D. Little.
	A copy of the decision document is in the Library of the House.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set for carbon dioxide reduction in the next five years.

Michael Meacher: No targets have been set for carbon dioxide reduction over the next five years. Under the Kyoto Protocol, the UK has a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12. The Government have an additional domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The UK's climate change programme, published in November 2000, sets out a range of policies and measures that we estimate could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23 per cent. by 2010. The programme will be monitored and evaluated at regular intervals, including a formal review in 2004–05.

English Canal System

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will next meet the board of British Waterways to discuss the extension of the English canal system; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have no plans at present to visit the board of British Waterways to discuss the extension of the canal system, but my noble Friend Lord Whitty has regular meetings with British Waterways. We are aware of a number of proposals in the pipeline and look forward to discussing them with British Waterways at the appropriate time.

Waste Management Strategy

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting the targets of the Government's Waste Management Strategy (2000) and progress since the waste summit.

Michael Meacher: Since launching the national waste strategy in May 2000, the Government have set demanding statutory targets for the recycling and composting of household waste for each local authority, increased the landfill tax and consulted on a system of tradable landfill permits in order to achieve the diversion from landfill required. It has also set up the Waste and Resources Action Programme to help create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, with funding from the Government and the devolved Administrations of around £40 million over three years.
	Following the waste summit held on 21 November, which considered what more needs to be done to ensure effective delivery of the strategy, the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) have begun their study to review Waste Strategy 2000. The study is assessing what extra instruments, changes to targets or regulations, or additional funding may be required to ensure that the strategy is delivered effectively and that we are able to develop more sustainable waste management.
	The PIU will be consulting with key stakeholders through the study. Further details about the study are available on the PIU website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/ innovation.

Electronic Livestock Markets

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments she has made of the effect on animal welfare and transport costs of the use of electronic livestock markets during the foot and mouth epidemic.

Elliot Morley: We have no information on animals traded as a results of electronic livestock markets but the welfare of such animals and the related transport costs would be the responsibility of the parties involved. Electronic markets do have the potential to reduce animal movements with the benefits of welfare and cost.

Farm Incomes

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on farm incomes.

Elliot Morley: Revised estimates of farm income, output and productivity of agriculture during 2001 were published on 31 January. These confirm the increase in farm incomes forecast last November and indicate a modest rise of 13 per cent. (11 per cent. in real terms).
	This increase is due to improved prices leading to higher values of output for milk, potatoes and horticulture outweighing lower values of output for cereals and livestock. Incomes are forecast to show a further rise in 2002 as the volume of cereal production returns to more normal levels and the industry starts to recover from the effects of FMD.
	Details have been placed in the Library of the House.

Bovine TB

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional control measures have been introduced to control the possible spread of bovine TB after the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Elliot Morley: I am announcing today the introduction of TB movement restrictions on certain herds with overdue TB tests. The herds affected are those in annual test frequency parishes that have missed the six and 12 month tests carried out after the lifting of movement restrictions put in place after an earlier TB incident. A veterinary risk assessment has shown that these have been historically more at risk of being infected with TB than herds with other types of TB test. The measure is expected to affect up to 1,250 herds mainly in the south and west of England.
	In addition we are introducing additional checks on herds that have been reformed after FMD. These herds will be TB tested at 12 and 24 months after the normal TB check test at three months after restocking.

Registration Fees (Merchants and Saddlers)

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the fees to be paid by merchants and saddlers for registration in 2002–03 with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain under the Medicines (Exemptions for Merchants in Veterinary Drugs) Order 1998 have yet been determined.

Elliot Morley: Yes. With the consent of the Treasury, the schedule of fees for registration, retention and restoration have been determined. This is given in the table as follows:
	
		Fees -- £
		
			 Application in respect of each premises Previous New 
		
		
			 Agricultural merchants   
			 1. For registration under Article 5 224 224 
			 2. For retention of registration under Article 5 133 140 
			 3. For restoration of registration under Article 5 190 190 
			
			 Saddlers   
			 1. For registration under Article 5 127 127 
			 2. For retention of registration under Article 5 78 76 
			 3. For restoration of registration under Article 5 107 107

Rural Enterprise Scheme

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual administration costs of the Rural Enterprise Scheme are.

Margaret Beckett: The Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES) is one of the new grant schemes in the England Rural Development Programme which was launched in October 2000. It is delivered on a regional basis by DEFRA's Rural Development Service (RDS). Expenditure on the development and administration of the scheme in 2001–02 was forecast to be around £2 million. The final outturn figure is likely to be lower because a significant number of RDS staff were diverted temporarily on to foot and mouth disease work.

Rural Enterprise Scheme

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many bids have been received by the Rural Enterprise Scheme since it began; what (a) the aggregate value of bids, (b) the number of successful bids and (c) their aggregate value was; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Between October 2000, when the Rural Enterprise Scheme was launched, and the end of December 2001, 867 applications were received. The aggregate value of applications (ie grant sought) is some £54 million. Of the total number of applications received, 207 applications have been successful, with an aggregate value of £5.6 million in grant. A further 346 applications are currently being processed.

Zoos

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1171W, on zoos, how many zoos failed to meet required standards in (a) health and safety and (b) animal welfare requirements in each year since 1990 for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The information is not held centrally. The administration of both the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 falls to local authorities, and there is no requirement for them to report this information to central Government.

Environmental Appraisal

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many officials from her Department have attended the environmental appraisal and integration into policy training course run by the civil service college;
	(2)  when the last occasion was on which she requested an environmental appraisal before making a policy decision;
	(3)  how many environmental appraisals have been published by her Department since 1 January 2001; and if she will list the last four;
	(4)  what plans her Department has to appraise the environmental implications of its Spending Review submission to the Treasury;
	(5)  what procedures her Department has to ensure environmental appraisals are undertaken prior to (a) administrative and (b) policy decisions being made.

Margaret Beckett: As my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment indicated in his answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 610W, my Department has published two free-standing environmental appraisals since its creation in June 2001. These are: an economic analysis to inform the review of the Air Quality Strategy Objectives for particles, September 2001, and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, August 2001.
	The need to show any significant costs and benefits to the environment of all major policy proposals is a Cabinet Committee requirement. To this end, my Department is responsible for the cross-Government guidance, "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", which gives advice to Departments on how and when to carry out environmental appraisal. This guidance is incorporated in the Policy Makers' Checklist published by the Cabinet Office to improve policy making within government and I would expect the requirements of environmental appraisal to have been met, as appropriate, by the time major policy proposals are put to me, or other DEFRA Ministers, for decision.
	No officials from my Department attended the one environmental appraisal and integration into policy training course which the college has held since June 2001—although my officials regularly provide advice and speakers to the college for the course.
	All the proposals that will make up the Department's Spending Review submission to the Treasury are being considered against the 15 headline indicators of sustainable development. Those proposals that are likely to have a significant impact in terms of sustainable development are being subjected to an integrated policy appraisal.

Water Services

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many invoices for the provision of water services have not been paid for over one year; what their total value is; what the same figures were in each of the last four years; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The Office of Water Services have centrally gathered data on debt from water and sewerage companies only in respect of the years since 1998–99, and only for households. The number of households in England and Wales who had debt outstanding for over a year and the total value of that debt was as follows:
	
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Number of households with debt outstanding for more than one year 1,308,176 1,409,497 1,581,620 
			 Household debts outstanding for more than one year (3)289 (3)326 (3)362 
		
	
	(3) £ million
	Note:
	2000–01 prices: excluding debt outstanding for more than 48 months

Water Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what studies her Department has completed on the impact of cross-subsidy in the water industry; and what future studies are planned;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the ending of the cross-subsidy on the delivery of water services for rural customers;
	(3)  what measures she plans to take to protect (a) rural customers and (b) those on low incomes from the impact of the ending of cross-subsidy in the water industry.

Michael Meacher: Following my announcement to the House on 30 March 2001, Official Report, column 831W, the Department has been examining in further detail the scope for extending competition in the water industry. This work includes careful consideration of the implications for all customers, including those in rural areas and on low incomes, and the possible effects on existing cross subsidies. DEFRA will be publishing a consultation paper, setting out the issues and proposals later this year.

Nuclear Waste

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will list the (a) quantities, (b) radioactive components and (c) location of intermediate and high level waste in the UK in the last 12 months;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on her policy on the long- term management of the UK's nuclear waste.

Michael Meacher: By the end of the century there will be half a million tonnes of radioactive waste. Some of it will be potentially dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years. Deciding the best way to manage it is one of the greatest environmental challenges we have ever faced. The Government and the devolved Administrations published the consultation paper "Managing radioactive waste safely" on 12 September. We propose a programme of national debate and research, leading to scientifically sound decisions on the long-term management of radioactive waste which inspire public confidence across the UK. In the meantime radioactive waste is safely stored, and rigorously controlled by regulators including the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.
	I gave further details of our policy in oral evidence to the Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs inquiry into radioactive waste management at its hearing on 17 December. The consultation closes on 12 March and we hope that people all over the UK will let us have their views.
	Information on the quantity, radioactive components and location of high, intermediate and low level radioactive waste in the UK is published in the "United Kingdom radioactive waste inventory". A copy of the most recent inventory, for 1998, was placed in the Library of the House and I have sent a copy on CD to the hon. Member. The latest inventory, for 2001, is being completed by Electrowatt-Ekono (UK) under contract to my Department and to UK Nirex Ltd., and will be published later this year. I shall place a copy in the Library.
	Data have not been collected in such a way as to give the quantities of intermediate and high level waste produced in the last 12 months. However, the 1998 inventory gives the total likely arising of the wastes (when expressed in conditioned form) over the 10-year period 2000–09 as 30,815 and 799 cubic metres respectively. Assuming a uniform rate of arising, then the arisings of high and intermediate level waste in the last 12 months would have been about 3,100 and 80 cubic metres respectively. Intermediate level waste is produced at locations too numerous to list; they are predominantly nuclear licensed sites but also include many hospitals and small users of radioactive sources. High level waste is only produced at Sellafield.

Parish and Town Councils

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the policy initiatives her Department, or its predecessor Departments have made since 1997 which affect parish and town councils.

Alun Michael: The Government set out a number of policy initiatives to support parish and town councils in the Rural White Paper, published in November 2000. The main measures to help parish and town councils develop a new role and give communities the opportunity to shape their future have now been put in place. These are:
	the Community Service Grants scheme, providing £15 million (over three years) to help maintain or introduce services which are local priorities;
	the £15 million (over three years) Parish Transport Grants scheme for small scale projects to meet local needs;
	£5 million (over three years) to help up to 1,000 parishes draw up their own town or village plans to set out local needs and aspirations.
	the national training and support strategy for parish and town councils published by the Countryside Agency and the National Association of Local Councils, to which we have allocated £2 million;
	detailed proposals for putting the quality parish and town councils concept into practice, set out in a consultation paper published in November.
	The Department is also responsible for the £32.5 million Leader+ European Community Initiative, which can be expected to benefit the parish and town councils involved in the 24 Local Action Groups approved by the Secretary of State.
	In addition, the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions continues to take the lead on a number of policy areas and initiatives inherited from the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which directly affect parish and town councils. These include:
	the creation of over 80 new parishes since 1997;
	the local government White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services", published in December which contains a chapter on "the way forward for parishes". This sets out how the Government will work to make the financial arrangements for parishes more responsive to their needs and aspirations—and those who use and pay for the services they provide;
	the inclusion of parish and town councils with annual budgeted income of over £500,000 (in the years 1997–98 to 1999–2000) within the Best Value regime:
	a Statutory Instrument passed to increase the threshold above which a parish or town council is required to prepare income and expenditure accounts from £5,000 to £50,000; and
	parish councils are also included within the new ethical framework—the main elements of which are now in place. This framework includes a code of conduct which all parish councillors must sign up to and a new independent body, the Standards Board, which will investigate breaches of this code.

Waste Composting

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to regulate emissions of bioaerosols arising from waste composting schemes.

Margaret Beckett: Waste composting activities, including the emissions of bioaerosols from waste composting schemes, are regulated by the controls contained in Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. Waste composting activities must be licensed with the Environment Agency or operate under a registered exemption, and must be carried out in a way which does not harm the environment or human health. Under the 1990 Act, the Environment Agency are required to monitor waste sites, and carry out periodic inspections of waste composting schemes.

Waste Composting

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the role of waste composting schemes in meeting the Government's target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Margaret Beckett: The Government have set out their policies for meeting their greenhouse gas reduction targets in the UK Climate Change Programme, copies of which are available in House Libraries. Waste disposal—principally landfill—is the second largest source of methane in the UK.
	The EU landfill directive requires a progressive reduction in the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill. The Government and the National Assembly have set challenging targets in "Waste Strategy 2000" to recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005, rising to 33 per cent. by 2015. These measures—together with energy recovery schemes at landfill sites—are projected to reduce methane emissions from the waste disposal sector to 65 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

Waste Composting

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if proposals for new waste composting schemes will require an environmental impact assessment.

Margaret Beckett: Waste composting schemes are not referred to specifically in the list of projects subject to environmental impact assessment, as set out in Directive 85/337/EEC as amended, but could be subject to EIA as part of a wider project. The position in relation to the EIA regulations would depend on the circumstances in each case and would be considered by local planning authorities where projects were subject to the planning legislation.

Waste Composting

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what studies have been undertaken by the Environment Agency into the dispersion and dispersion mechanisms of bioaerosols arising from the composting of waste; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the level of emissions of bioaerosols arising from the composting of waste;
	(3)  if she will list her targets for the composting of waste for (a) 2002 and (b) each of the next five years.

Margaret Beckett: The Government's waste strategy sets national targets to recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005, at least 30 per cent. by 2010 and at least 33 per cent. by 2015. Annual composting targets have not been set for 2002 or the following five years, but statutory performance standards for household waste recycling and composting have been set for each local authority under the Best Value process for 2003–04 and 2005–06. The achievement of these will deliver the first of the national targets in 2005.

Greenhouse Gases

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is towards reducing the level of methane emissions.

Margaret Beckett: The Government's policy for reducing methane emissions are set out in the UK's Climate Change Programme, copies of which are in the House Libraries. A range of policies has been introduced which is leading to reductions in methane emissions. A key policy is the increased collection of landfill gas for use as energy, an important aspect of the Waste Strategy and the EU landfill directive. Emissions are also falling from other sources including the agricultural sector, coal mines and the natural gas distribution network. Methane emissions are currently projected to fall by about 45 per cent. below 1990 levels in 2010.

Greenhouse Gases

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage reduction target from the 1990 baseline she has set for each of the greenhouse gases.

Margaret Beckett: Under the Kyoto Protocol, the UK has a target to reduce emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12. The six gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. The Government have an additional domestic goal to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. Further targets have not been set for the other greenhouse gases. The UK's climate change programme, published in November 2000, sets out a range of policies and measures that we estimate could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23 per cent. by 2010.

Transported Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the average number of food miles travelled by food consumed in the UK.

Margaret Beckett: The Continuing Survey of Roads Goods Transport recorded that UK registered HGVs transported food, animal feed and drink (totalling 354 million tonnes) a total distance of 4,437 million kilometres within the UK at an average length of haul of 128 kilometres. Such vehicles account for around 95 per cent. of all freight moved by road. This includes the domestic part of any trips that start or end in a foreign country, and excludes food, feed and drink transported by foreign-registered HGVs. In terms of freight movement (ie weight of goods multiplied by distance travelled) this represents 45 billion tonne-kilometres.
	There are no official statistics available on the distance travelled by imported food, feed and drink up to the point of entry into the UK. However an academic study 1 carried out in 1996 estimated that UK imports of food products and animal feed involved transportation by sea, air and road of around 83 billion tonne-kilometres.
	1 Cowell, S. And R. Clift, 1996. Farming for the Future: an environmental perspective. Paper presented at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, July 1996.

Domestic Game Industry

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to support the domestic game industry; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The only sizeable farmed game industry in the UK is the deer (venison) industry. In the main, Government help for that industry has come in the form of funding R&D. The Government have funded deer related projects since 1988, the most recent being a three year project, costing £178,000, looking at low input systems for venison production. For the future, R&D in the deer sector is likely to concentrate on sustainability and the comparative environmental cost of farming deer.
	Deer farming has also benefited from grants under the Agriculture Development Scheme, aimed mainly at developing assurance schemes in this sector.

Water Framework and Nitrates Directives

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the reasons for signing the Water Framework Directive.

Michael Meacher: The UK played a leading role in drafting many aspects of the Water Framework Directive during and after its presidency of the European Union 1998. The directive will help ensure protection and improvement of our inland and coastal waters for the benefit of generations to come, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
	The Directive introduces a common approach to environmental objectives for all groundwaters and surface waters within the Community as well as a common implementation method, based around the principle of river basin management.

Water Framework and Nitrates Directives

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the differences are between current methodology employed to map nitrate vulnerable zones and that used when nitrate vulnerable zones were designated in 1996.

Michael Meacher: Identification of discrete area nitrate vulnerable zones as presented under Option 2 of the current consultation paper "How should England implement the 1991 Nitrates Directive?", published on 20 December 2001, has required assessments of the status of several different types of water bodies.
	For surface waters, the primary differences between current and past methodology are that the proposed designations are the result of the application of a more robust statistical methodology used to assess nitrate concentrations, coupled with the use of a more extensive water quality sampling network. Following the European Court of Justice (ECJ) judgment in 2000 that we failed to fully implement the nitrates directive, we were required to cover all waters, not just those used for drinking water supplies. The entire Environment Agency GQA monitoring network is now used. Statistical assessments of nitrate concentrations have been based on a minimum of five years of data, compared to a single year of data in the past. For the first time, trend-analysis has also been used to cover the requirement to protect those waters which may be subject to unacceptably high nitrate pollution in the future.
	For groundwaters, the 1996 designations of groundwater NVZs were based on monitoring data taken from Public Water Supply boreholes and delineated by groundwater catchments. Following the ECJ judgment, we were required to ensure that the new methodology identifies all groundwater vulnerable to agriculturally- derived nitrate and not just the catchments (zones of contribution) for Public Supply Wells. This was accomplished by combining a statistical assessment of groundwater data with a groundwater vulnerability model derived from an examination of the risk factors associated with land use, rainfall, soil and geological characteristics. The spatial distribution of nitrate values from the monitoring network was used in conjunction with the vulnerability map to define nitrate vulnerable zones.
	The nitrates directive also requires designation of nitrate vulnerable zones draining into estuarine areas which have been adjudged to be eutrophic and where a significant proportion of nitrogen arises from diffuse agricultural sources. Such areas are identified in England under the proposals for Option 2 for the first time.

Water Framework and Nitrates Directives

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the overlap between the water framework and nitrates directives.

Michael Meacher: Measures required under the nitrates directive are also "basic" measures which must be included in "programmes of measures" under article 11 of the water framework directive. These programmes of measures have to be published in draft by December 2008 as part of proposed comprehensive River Basin Management Plans.
	Action required under the nitrates directive will also therefore contribute to meeting environmental objectives set by the water framework directive. These objectives are due to be met by 2015.
	DEFRA published a consultation document on 20 December 2001 setting out options for implementing the nitrates directive, in order to comply with a European Court of Justice judgment issued in December 2000. These proposals would apply measures required under the nitrates directive in new areas from 19 December 2002.

Water Framework and Nitrates Directives

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the methodology for mapping groundwaters in relation to proposed nitrate vulnerable zones has been changed from that applied on nitrate vulnerable zones designated in 1996.

Michael Meacher: Identification and designation of groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) in 1996 was based on monitoring data from Public Water Supply boreholes. Following the European Court of Justice judgment that we have failed to fully implement the nitrates directive, we were required to extend the methodology to cover all groundwaters, not just drinking water supplies. The Environment Agency therefore used in addition to all available private borehole monitoring data and developed a modelling methodology, calibrated to best fit available borehole monitoring data, to identify vulnerable groundwaters. Further details are in Annexe A of the current consultation document "How should England implement the 1991 Nitrates Directive?" (PB6269) published on 20 December 2001.

Animal Movement Licences

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on livestock farmers who have imminent markets for animals of her Department's changes to the procedure for the issuing of movement orders by trading standards office; for what reasons the change requiring movement orders to be despatched by post was made; and what consultations were made with farmers and representative organisations prior to the change being introduced.

Elliot Morley: Guidance issued by DEFRA to local authority trading standard departments has not changed. It has consistently advised that licences should only be issued in hard copy form with faxed copies only being used in exceptional circumstances.

Rural Payments

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with HM Treasury on match funding for European Union agri-environment scheme subsidies; what steps she has taken to press for the introduction of modulation of direct compensation payments to farmers as part of the 2003 mid-term review of the common agricultural policy; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The funding arrangements for the agri-environment schemes under the England Rural Development Programme, including the match funding for European Union funds, were confirmed under the Spending Review 2000. Levels of funding will be considered as part of the Spending Review 2002. Part of the European Union funding is derived from modulation of direct compensation payments.
	Government are currently engaged in informal discussions with like-minded member states on various aspects of the 2003 mid-term review of the Agenda 2000 common agricultural policy reforms. Those discussions include mechanisms for switching funds from the first to the second pillar of the common agricultural policy.

Cameraria Ohridella

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the spread of Cameraria ohridella in Europe; and if she has assessed the potential impact on the UK.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen) on 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 362W.

Elvaston Landfill Site

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs further to her answer of 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 398W, on Elvaston landfill site, what actions the agency has taken on the operator's proposed plans; and what steps are being taken to inform residents of progress.

Michael Meacher: A public meeting was held on 11 December 2001 where the proposals for work on the site were explained. The public had an opportunity to put questions to representatives of the various organisations with an interest in the activities at the site including Biffa, the Environment Agency and the local and county authorities. Newsletters are being sent to the residents and businesses in the area when new information regarding the site is available.
	The Environment Agency continues to review and seek any necessary improvements to the operator's proposed plan for the site. The agency report that progress is being made on the site in working towards reducing leachate levels. 10 pumps are operational on site to remove leachate from the cells. This is either going via sewer, for the less concentrated sources, or via collection by tanker—for treatment at an appropriate facility—for the strong leachate. Improvements on the gas collection system and capping of the cell area which appeared to be causing many of the odour problems is progressing well and according to the operator should be complete by the end of February.

Eaga Partnership Ltd

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the number of complaints he has received about the operations of Eaga.

Michael Meacher: The Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England is the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), now marketed as The Warm Front Team. The scheme is administered by two scheme managers, TXU Warm Front Ltd. (eastern, east midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber) and Eaga Partnership Ltd. (the rest of England).
	Over 250,000 householders have been assisted since the launch of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) on 1 June 2000. The number of complaints received by my Department since that date concerning Eaga Partnership's three regions is 330 or 0.1 per cent of work completed. A significant number of the complaints received relate to customer service issues and heating delays.

Industrial Action (IACS Payments)

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the industrial action being carried out by staff employed at her Department's regional offices; what assessment she has made of the impact of delays in IACS and ESA payments on individual farm cashflow; and if she will take measures to ensure that farm claimants receive interest on all payment amounts delayed by industrial action.

Elliot Morley: The RPA expects to be able to pay the vast majority of IACS and ESA claims within the regulatory timeframe. However, because of the processing time that has been lost due to industrial action (which was suspended on 11 January), it is likely that more claims than usual will be carried over into February. Every effort will be made to keep these to the absolute minimum. When she met the British Banking Association in November the Secretary of State sought their understanding for the effect which payment delays would have on the cash flow of their farming customers.
	The extent to which any claimants might be entitled to compensation for delays in their payments will be considered in the light of the circumstances at the time.

Home Heating

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for the installation of heating equipment have been made to the Eaga Partnership in each of the last three years; how many have been successful; what the average waiting time was; how many homes have had to wait more than nine months for such works to be undertaken; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), now marketed as The Warm Front Team, is administered in three of the four English regions by Eaga Partnership Ltd. (London and south-east; south-west and west midlands and north-west and north-east).
	Heating was made available from the launch of the redesigned scheme on 1 June 2000. The previous scheme, which had run from 1991, provided one main insulation measure only. Hence the information provided in the table relates to the new scheme.
	The package of heating and insulation measures to be installed is not known until a HEES surveyor has visited the client's home and an assessment has been made of the measures already in place.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Applications received 419,000 
			 Eligible applications received (4)336,000 
			 Applications where gas central heating has been recommended 81,300 
			 Successful applications for gas central heating (5)79,500 
			 Current average waiting time to install a new gas central heating system (days) (6)180 
			 Homes that have waited more than 9 months for a new gas central heating system 6,600 
		
	
	(4) It is not possible to identify the package of the measures to be installed in a client's home until the HEES surveyor has visited the property. This assessment takes into account the measures already installed.
	(5) It is not possible to identify why the client decided not to proceed with the HEES surveyor's recommendations.
	(6) Days measured from date of call with respect of telephone applications, from date of receipt in case of postal applications or from date of e-mail. There is usually a period of 1–8 weeks between the date of actual installation and the receipt of the invoice from installers.
	Since the launch of the scheme on 1 June 2000 Eaga Partnership's contractors have installed 25,000 new gas-fired central heating systems. The majority of householders who have waited over nine months were those who applied to the scheme when it was first launched.
	The national shortage of gas heating engineers has led to severe delays in some areas in the installation and repair of central heating systems. Over the last 12 months Eaga has increased its heating installer base from 30 to 130 companies. Already this is paying dividends with the number of installations rising to 1,000 in January 2001 compared to 3,500 in December 2001.

Special Advisers

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints have been reported in her Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999, and how many of them related to special advisers.

Elliot Morley: The procedures for making complaints under the Civil Service Code are set in the Department's staff handbook. Civil servants are encouraged, in the first instance, to raise complaints made under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code with their line manager. If for any reason this is not felt to be possible, perhaps because the line manager is part of the complaint, individuals may take their complaint to a nominated official (or officials). It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the number of complaints made within this Department under paragraph 11 of the code as there is no requirement for managers to report to the centre details of complaints made under the Civil Service Code which are resolved within the management line. However, no such complaints have been reported to the centre of the Department during the period in question.

Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 8 November concerning the actions of the Rural Payments Agency relating to a transfer of quota units.

Elliot Morley: A response to the hon. Member's letter of 8 November was sent on 9 January 2002.

Waste Disposal

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many waste incineration plants there were in the Buckingham constituency in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many landfill sites there were in the Buckingham constituency in each of the last five years.

Michael Meacher: The information is as follows:
	Landfill Sites
	The following totals are for open and operational landfill sites in the Buckingham constituency.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 6 
			 1998 6 
			 1999 (7)6 
			 2000 5 
			 2001 5 
		
	
	(7) Five from May 1999 onwards
	Waste Incineration
	There were no waste incineration plants in the Buckingham constituency in each of the last five years.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Education

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent negotiations have taken place involving the World bank to increase the amount of aid going on education to help developing countries reach their "Education for All" goals; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: At its spring meeting in April the World bank will submit a paper on achieving the millennium development goal of universal primary education by 2015. This will analyse progress to date since the Dakar Forum and lessons learned, examine the costs of meeting this goal and make recommendations for obtaining the additional financing required. We are consulting the bank about the preparation of this paper.
	The World bank has a critical role in supporting countries as they seek to give priority to education, and primary education in particular, within the overall context of their poverty reduction strategies. We have not yet seen increased bank funding in support of "Education for All" since Dakar. We hope that at the spring meeting, bank governors will deliver a strong message in support of greater bank effort in education. We believe the bank, together with other international development banks and development agencies, should increase the resources committed to helping reforming government deliver universal primary education.

Education

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action is being taken to encourage the provision of education in developing countries, and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The Government give priority to helping poor countries develop sustainable education systems to deliver high-quality primary education to all their children. DFID's education strategy paper, "The challenge of universal primary education", sets out our overall approach and three-fold strategy for delivering this goal. Our recent paper "Children out of School" identifies the different circumstances of children who are not in school and proposes an eight-point plan of international action for accelerating progress towards the target of universal primary education for all by 2015. Copies of both papers are available in the Library of the House.

International Development Foundation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding her Department has provided to the International Development Foundation in the past five years; and how many times her Department has worked with the International Development Foundation in this period.

Clare Short: There are no records of DFID having either worked with or provided any support to the London- based International Development Foundation.

Child Slavery

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had on providing funding for refugees for those fleeing from child slavery; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Children may be at risk from many forms of forced labour. Protection and rehabilitation in their former or new communities needs to be adapted to their particular circumstances, whether they are former bonded labourers, child soldiers or victims of trafficking.
	Many programmes supported by my Department to end exploitative child labour and improve livelihood opportunities and access to education, health, justice and protection provide assistance to such children. We also support specifically targeted programmes such as UNICEF's work on the rehabilitation of child soldiers and other children affected by conflict.

Child Slavery

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received about child slavery (a) in general and (b) in Gabon, Togo and Benin; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Concern has been expressed about child trafficking and slavery in a number of regions, including Gabon, Togo and Benin and other parts of West Africa. The Government are strongly committed to the elimination of child slavery and all forms of abusive or exploitative child labour. We are supporting the efforts of governments, working with our European partners and international bodies such as UNICEF and the International Labour Organisation, and voluntary agencies such as Anti-Slavery International, to end these practices, both in domestic and export industries.

Children (Sexual Exploitation)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid is being given to combat sexual exploitation of children overseas; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Combating sexual exploitation of children is part of a wider set of issues related to the vulnerability of poor people to the interests of the sex industry and national and international traffickers. It is an international problem requiring co-ordinated action. DFID's goal is to eliminate the poverty and social injustice that may lead to such abuses. Much of our focus is on reducing the risks of young people being recruited into the industry. With other Government Departments, we are supporting the efforts of Governments and international agencies to strengthen social protection policies and justice systems in line with the international treaty framework covering these issues.
	Examples of Government assistance include:
	funding the ILO's International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour;
	training the police in Sri Lanka and the Philippines to identify, prevent and counsel victims of sexual abuse;
	Supporting the Asia-Europe (ASEM) Resource Centre website which promotes agency co-operation, sharing of information and good practice;
	funding NGOs working with tour operators on developing a code of practice for the travel industry to eliminate child sex tourism.

Contracts (KPMG)

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contracts her Department has with KPMG; and what the value is of each one.

Clare Short: My Department currently has 18 contracts with KPMG. The table lists contracts and values.
	
		International Development contracts with KPMG
		
			  File number  Project title Current contract value (£) 
		
		
			 20013326 Jamaica Performance Improvement Programme: Modernisation Vision and Strategy Paper for reform of Jamaican public service 59,185 
			 20013102 Andhra Pradesh support for the Governance Support Programme 801,962 
			 20012861 Assistance to E-Governance Sub Group for Stability Pact South Eastern Europe Initiative 92,075 
			 20012520 Support for National Anti-Corruption Strategy 343,008 
			 20012262 Results Orientated Management Implementation Support 165,468 
			 20012312 Jamaica Performance Improvement Programme: Managing Consultancy to Provide a Programme of Support for the Ministry of Education and Cult 363,240 
			 20012209 Improving Public Service through Provision of One Stop Shops 194,900 
			 20012131 Business and Employment Centres (BEC): Independent Project Audit 6,000 
			 20001628 Guyana Water Sector Programme: Phase 1—Lead Consultants 556,451 
			 20001561 Vulnerable Children in Ekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk Oblast: External Audit of Accounts by Third Party 12,000 
			 20001028 Contract Management Constabulary Reform and Modernisation Project 2,661,940 
			 20000640 Performance Review of Ministry of Finance 696,084 
			 20000139 Support to the Bulgarian Export Insurance Agency 609,473 
			 19998996 Ministry for the Environment Natural Resources and Fish (SEMARNAP) Institutional Strengthening, Monitoring and Evaluation Project: Programme for Regional Sustainable Development (Proders) 617,350 
			 19997355 Support for Improving Corporate Services and Management in the Rwanda Revenue Authority 2,461,845 
			 19984694 Private Sector Infrastructure Development Project 5,032,976 
			 MAL/72/01 BLM (Banja La M'Tsogola) Integrated Sexual Reproductive Health 1,704 
			 DCP/PERW/WI Personal Wages and Employment Review 38,868

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Individual Learning Accounts

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much each registered provider under the ILA scheme was owed by her Department when the scheme was (a) closed and (b) suspended.

John Healey: holding answer 21 January 2002
	The amount of payment owed to individual providers is held as commercial in confidence. The ILA programme was closed on 23 November, not suspended. At the date of closure the total value of learning confirmed on the ILA Centre system was £14.8 million. Payment of £3.5 million for confirmed learning was made on 20 December to 1,383 learning providers, which is 91 per cent. of those who had confirmed learning up to 21 November. 136 provider claims with a total value of £11.3 million are held while complaints and concerns about the learning delivered are investigated.
	We have as a matter of priority carried out work to finalise checks of providers' claims made between 21 and 23 November to enable further payments to be made. The total amount of these claims is £4.65 million, of which £2.23 million was paid to 1,241 learning providers last week. This represents 94 per cent. of those who had confirmed learning by 23 November. A further 84 provider claims with a total value of £2.42 million are held while complaints and concerns about the learning delivered are investigated.

Teacher Retention

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives she is undertaking to improve teacher retention rates in schools.

Stephen Timms: Retaining good teachers within the profession is key to continuing to raise standards in schools. Our research has consistently shown that workload is a significant factor in influencing teachers to leave the profession. That is why we have asked the School Teachers' Review Body to consider the findings of the recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study that we commissioned into reducing teachers' workloads. The STRB will report to us by the end of April this year and we have already announced the piloting of 30 school work force pathfinders to test out innovative solutions to reducing work load and bureaucracy in schools. In addition, we made £33 million available in 2001–02 directly to schools in those parts of the country where problems are greatest to fund local recruitment and retention initiatives. We have recently announced a further £44 million for 2002–03. More than 3,500 teachers will also receive assistance to purchase homes in areas of high price or demand as part of the Government's £250 million starter homes initiative. We have also announced our proposal to accept the STRB's recently announced recommendations, including a further above inflation pay increase of 3.5 per cent. for all teachers and that good, experienced, teachers should in future be able to receive a £2,148 pay increase on crossing the threshold after five years instead of seven. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out our longer term proposals for teachers and teaching in a pamphlet, "Professionalism and Trust", published in November 2001.

School Exclusions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were permanently excluded from school by region expressed as (a) a percentage of school population and (b) the total number, in descending order according to percentage figures in the latest year in which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Number of permanent exclusions in schools(8) 1999–2000—Government office regions and local education authorities in England
		
			  Number of permanent exclusions Percentage of the school population(9) Percentage of all permanent exclusions(10) 
		
		
			 England 8,323 0.11 100.00 
			 
			 Government office regions
			 North West 1,314 0.12 15.8 
			 London 1,289 0.12 15.5 
			 West Midlands 1.104 0.12 13.3 
			 South East 1,251 0.11 15.0 
			 North East 482 0.11 5.8 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 819 0.10 9.8 
			 East Midlands 696 0.10 8.4 
			 East of England 735 0.09 8.8 
			 South West 633 0.09 7.6 
			 
			 Local education authorities
			 City of London 1 0.45 0.01 
			 Wandsworth 94 0.33 1.13 
			 Sandwell 132 0.25 1.59 
			 Doncaster 121 0.23 1.45 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 24 0.23 0.29 
			 Leicester 107 0.22 1.29 
			 Liverpool 175 0.22 2.10 
			 Salford 77 0.22 0.93 
			 Westminster 39 0.22 0.47 
			 Lewisham 75 0.21 0.90 
			 Bristol, City of 104 0.21 1.25 
			 Southwark 69 0.20 0.83 
			 Reading 35 0.20 0.42 
			 Telford and Wrekin 50 0.19 0.60 
			 Bracknell Forest 29 0.19 0.35 
			 Coventry 95 0.19 1.14 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 73 0.19 0.88 
			 Croydon 87 0.18 1.05 
			 Darlington 27 0.17 0.32 
			 Manchester 114 0.17 1.37 
			 Medway 75 0.17 0.90 
			 Halton 35 0.16 0.42 
			 Thurrock 36 0.16 0.43 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 40 0.16 0.48 
			 North Tyneside 50 0.16 0.60 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 60 0.16 0.72 
			 Birmingham 274 0.15 3.29 
			 Enfield 73 0.15 0.88 
			 Brent 57 0.15 0.68 
			 North Lincolnshire 39 0.15 0.47 
			 North Somerset 41 0.15 0.49 
			 Waltham Forest 53 0.15 0.64 
			 Brighton and Hove 45 0.15 0.54 
			 Sheffield 111 0.15 1.33 
			 Hounslow 52 0.14 0.62 
			 Durham 114 0.14 1.37 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 37 0.14 0.44 
			 South Tyneside 36 0.14 0.43 
			 North East Lincolnshire 38 0.13 0.46 
			 Harrow 39 0.13 0.47 
			 Worcestershire 109 0.13 1.31 
			 Bury 39 0.13 0.47 
			 Bradford 116 0.13 1.39 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 25 0.13 0.30 
			 Nottingham 55 0.13 0.66 
			 Peterborough 38 0.13 0.46 
			 Richmond upon Thames 25 0.13 0.30 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 21 0.12 0.25 
			 West Sussex 131 0.12 1.57 
			 Derby 47 0.12 0.56 
			 Oldham 51 0.12 0.61 
			 Barnsley 43 0.12 0.52 
			 Kent 253 0.12 3.04 
			 Greenwich 43 0.12 0.52 
			 Barnet 57 0.12 0.68 
			 Rochdale 43 0.12 0.52 
			 Hackney 31 0.12 0.37 
			 Stockport 51 0.12 0.61 
			 Sefton 56 0.12 0.67 
			 Hillingdon 47 0.12 0.56 
			 Lambeth 31 0.11 0.37 
			 Herefordshire 27 0.11 0.32 
			 Southend-on-Sea 29 0.11 0.35 
			 Cheshire 119 0.11 1.43 
			 Kirklees 72 0.11 0.87 
			 Wakefield 59 0.11 0.71 
			 East Sussex 72 0.11 0.87 
			 Lincolnshire 107 0.11 1.29 
			 Warwickshire 82 0.11 0.99 
			 Bolton 50 0.11 0.60 
			 Tameside 41 0.11 0.49 
			 Gloucestershire 91 0.11 1.09 
			 Barking and Dagenham 31 0.11 0.37 
			 Wigan 53 0.10 0.64 
			 Blackpool 21 0.10 0.25 
			 Walsall 51 0.10 0.61 
			 Hampshire 181 0.10 2.17 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 26 0.10 0.31 
			 Portsmouth 27 0.10 0.32 
			 Milton Keynes 35 0.10 0.42 
			 Hertfordshire 175 0.10 2.10 
			 Northamptonshire 105 0.10 1.26 
			 Suffolk 100 0.10 1.20 
			 Solihull 37 0.10 0.44 
			 Warrington 32 0.10 0.38 
			 Camden 22 0.10 0.26 
			 Merton 23 0.10 0.28 
			 Surrey 133 0.10 1.60 
			 Torbay 18 0.09 0.22 
			 St. Helens 28 0.09 0.34 
			 Lancashire 167 0.09 2.01 
			 Havering 34 0.09 0.41 
			 Essex 182 0.09 2.19 
			 Oxfordshire 76 0.09 0.91 
			 Sunderland 44 0.09 0.53 
			 Bedfordshire 56 0.09 0.67 
			 Somerset 62 0.09 0.74 
			 Hartlepool 15 0.09 0.18 
			 Tower Hamlets 31 0.09 0.37 
			 Wirral 47 0.08 0.56 
			 Leicestershire 80 0.08 0.96 
			 Islington 20 0.08 0.24 
			 Buckinghamshire 63 0.08 0.76 
			 Nottinghamshire 102 0.08 1.23 
			 Bexley 33 0.08 0.40 
			 Devon 79 0.08 0.95 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 27 0.08 0.32 
			 Trafford 30 0.08 0.36 
			 Northumberland 42 0.08 0.50 
			 Wokingham 19 0.08 0.23 
			 Cornwall 58 0.08 0.70 
			 Derbyshire 91 0.08 1.09 
			 Kingston upon Thames 16 0.08 0.19 
			 Dudley 39 0.08 0.47 
			 Staffordshire 99 0.07 1.19 
			 Norfolk 84 0.07 1.01 
			 Haringey 25 0.07 0.30 
			 Rotherham 32 0.07 0.38 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 30 0.07 0.36 
			 Newham 33 0.07 0.40 
			 Redbridge 29 0.07 0.35 
			 Swindon 20 0.07 0.24 
			 Sutton 19 0.07 0.23 
			 West Berkshire 16 0.07 0.19 
			 Dorset 35 0.06 0.42 
			 York 16 0.06 0.19 
			 Wiltshire 41 0.06 0.49 
			 Ealing 27 0.06 0.32 
			 Wolverhampton 26 0.06 0.31 
			 Bromley 28 0.06 0.34 
			 Leeds 71 0.06 0.85 
			 South Gloucestershire 23 0.06 0.28 
			 Shropshire 23 0.06 0.28 
			 Isle of Wight 11 0.06 0.13 
			 Plymouth 23 0.06 0.28 
			 Slough 10 0.05 0.12 
			 Cumbria 39 0.05 0.47 
			 Southampton 15 0.05 0.18 
			 Luton 15 0.05 0.18 
			 Gateshead 14 0.05 0.17 
			 North Yorkshire 40 0.05 0.48 
			 Rutland 2 0.04 0.02 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 20 0.04 0.24 
			 Bournemouth 7 0.03 0.08 
			 Calderdale 11 0.03 0.13 
			 Cambridgeshire 20 0.03 0.24 
			 Poole 5 0.03 0.06 
			 Knowsley 6 0.02 0.07 
			 Middlesbrough 3 0.01 0.04 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0.00 0.00 
		
	
	(8) Includes maintained primary and secondary schools and all special schools.
	(9) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of full and part-time pupils of all ages in primary, secondary and special schools, excluding dually registered pupils in special schools in January 2000.
	(10) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number of exclusions.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Examination Results

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils gained no GCSE above grade D by region, expressed as (a) a percentage of population and (b) the total number, in descending order according to percentage for the latest year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The percentage and number of 15-year-old pupils in schools in England in 2000–01 that gained no GCSE above grade D or the GNVQ equivalent are as follows:
	
		
			   As a percentage of 15-year-old pupils Number gained no grade above D 
		
		
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 31.4 19,760 
			 North East 31.3 10,422 
			 East Midlands 27.8 14,339 
			 West Midlands 27.6 18,753 
			 North West 27.5 24,636 
			 London 25.0 19,407 
			 East of England 22.7 14,847 
			 South West 22.6 13,312 
			 South East 22.2 21,306 
			 England 26.0 156,782

Local Education Authorities (Repair and Renewal Costs)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 17 January 2002, Official Report, column 446W, on local education authorities, if she will estimate the repair and renewal costs for each local education authority as a percentage of the education authority's annual budget for the latest available year; if she will rank them to show the highest to the lowest repair and renewal bill as a share of total LEA budget; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The table contains information relating to expenditure on repairs as a percentage of Net Current Expenditure after recharges:
	
		
			 LEA number LEA name Percentage 
		
		
			 357 Tameside 15.12 
			 305 Bromley 9.37 
			 372 Rotherham 6.67 
			 393 South Tyneside 6.34 
			 861 Stoke on Trent 6.05 
			 303 Bexley 5.87 
			 916 Gloucestershire 5.40 
			 302 Barnet 5.27 
			 384 Wakefield 5.17 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 5.05 
			 306 Croydon 4.97 
			 877 Warrington 4.97 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 4.74 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 4.65 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 4.64 
			 330 Birmingham 4.19 
			 851 Portsmouth 4.19 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 4.13 
			 826 Milton Keynes 4.12 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 4.11 
			 333 Sandwell 4.09 
			 883 Thurrock 4.04 
			 212 Wandsworth 3.93 
			 929 Northumberland 3.85 
			 806 Middlesbrough 3.71 
			 937 Warwickshire 3.68 
			 810 City of Kingston Upon Hull 3.67 
			 875 Cheshire 3.53 
			 878 Devon 3.52 
			 888 Lancashire 3.33 
			 343 Sefton 3.31 
			 815 North Yorkshire 3.27 
			 871 Slough 3.24 
			 805 Hartlepool 3.23 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 3.17 
			 342 St. Helens 3.13 
			 311 Havering 3.11 
			 837 Bournemouth 3.05 
			 855 Leicestershire 3.03 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 3.03 
			 870 Reading 3.02 
			 831 City of Derby 2.98 
			 800 Bath and North East Somerset 2.97 
			 884 Herefordshire 2.97 
			 919 Hertfordshire 2.97 
			 352 Manchester 2.96 
			 882 Southend 2.95 
			 344 Wirral 2.92 
			 359 Wigan 2.90 
			 928 Northamptonshire 2.88 
			 210 Southwark 2.88 
			 353 Oldham 2.86 
			 925 Lincolnshire 2.83 
			 876 Halton 2.82 
			 836 Poole 2.80 
			 840 Durham 2.79 
			 373 Sheffield 2.78 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen 2.77 
			 319 Sutton 2.74 
			 821 Luton 2.73 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 2.73 
			 304 Brent 2.70 
			 935 Suffolk 2.68 
			 203 Greenwich 2.67 
			 908 Cornwall 2.67 
			 926 Norfolk 2.66 
			 850 Hampshire 2.65 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 2.64 
			 802 North Somerset 2.63 
			 358 Trafford 2.63 
			 381 Calderdale 2.62 
			 845 East Sussex 2.61 
			 356 Stockport 2.60 
			 874 City of Peterborough 2.60 
			 213 City of Westminster 2.57 
			 886 Kent 2.56 
			 318 Richmond Upon Thames 2.56 
			 307 Ealing 2.55 
			 332 Dudley 2.53 
			 380 Bradford 2.52 
			 881 Essex 2.51 
			 852 Southampton 2.49 
			 938 West Sussex 2.48 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 2.44 
			 382 Kirklees 2.43 
			 869 West Berkshire 2.42 
			 892 City of Nottingham 2.39 
			 208 Lambeth 2.39 
			 857 Rutland 2.39 
			 841 Darlington 2.38 
			 390 Gateshead 2.38 
			 909 Cumbria 2.38 
			 313 Hounslow 2.36 
			 816 York 2.36 
			 921 Isle of Wight 2.36 
			 865 Wiltshire 2.35 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 2.35 
			 201 City of London 2.32 
			 308 Enfield 2.31 
			 890 Blackpool 2.31 
			 868 Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 2.30 
			 872 Wokingham 2.30 
			 341 Liverpool 2.29 
			 391 Newcastle Upon Tyne 2.28 
			 887 Medway 2.27 
			 336 Wolverhampton 2.26 
			 315 Merton 2.25 
			 371 Doncaster 2.24 
			 370 Barnsley 2.24 
			 314 Kingston Upon Thames 2.23 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 2.21 
			 355 Salford 2.19 
			 312 Hillingdon 2.17 
			 317 Redbridge 2.17 
			 340 Knowsley 2.15 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 2.12 
			 354 Rochdale 2.09 
			 351 Bury 2.07 
			 893 Shropshire 2.06 
			 801 City of Bristol 2.06 
			 835 Dorset 2.04 
			 310 Harrow 2.04 
			 885 Worcestershire 2.03 
			 879 City of Plymouth 2.01 
			 936 Surrey 1.99 
			 202 Camden 1.99 
			 394 Sunderland 1.95 
			 331 Coventry 1.93 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 1.93 
			 860 Staffordshire 1.92 
			 316 Newham 1.81 
			 856 Leicester City 1.81 
			 206 Islington 1.75 
			 880 Torbay 1.73 
			 309 Haringey 1.72 
			 209 Lewisham 1.68 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 1.64 
			 830 Derbyshire 1.58 
			 334 Solihull 1.48 
			 335 Walsall 1.47 
			 350 Bolton 1.32 
			 420 Isles of Scilly 1.26 
			 933 Somerset 1.21 
			 383 Leeds 1.17 
			 866 Swindon 1.06 
			 931 Oxfordshire 0.90 
			 392 North Tyneside 0.75 
			 204 Hackney 0.43 
			 320 Waltham Forest 0.20 
			 820 Bedfordshire 0.06 
		
	
	Note:
	The information is taken from the 1990–2000 section 52 outturn statements completed by local education authorities and returned to the DfES. Total expenditure on non-capital building works (including repairs and maintenance of buildings, and non-capital expenditure on fixed plants and grounds) is a percentage of net current expenditure (NCE) after recharges.

Special Educational Needs

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure that the total inclusion policy will not lead to the closure of special schools and nursery units by means of non-referral of pupils.

Stephen Timms: Decisions about the individual placement of children with special educational needs and the pattern of provision to provide for their needs are determined locally. In promoting the inclusion of children with special educational needs the Government have sought to ensure excellence and choice. Greater inclusion does not mean it will be harder for parents whose children have a statement to secure a place for their child in a special school. Where appropriate local education authorities should name a special school in a child's statement. The Government have underlined that there is a vital and continuing role for special schools. We are encouraging and supporting special schools to become outward looking centres of excellence, their staff working in partnership with their mainstream colleagues.

Schools and Admissions Forums

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many letters of (a) support and (b) opposition she has received to the Government's proposals on (i) schools forums, and (ii) admissions forums.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 January 2002
	Although our proposals for schools forums were first set out in the White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success", a full consultation exercise has not yet been held and only a minimal amount of correspondence has yet been received on this topic. The Department will be undertaking a formal consultation exercise in spring 2002 on the constitution and functions of schools forums. By 7 November 2001, our school admissions consultation had received 324 responses (78 per cent.) supporting our proposals for mandatory admissions forums, at least to some extent, and 79 replies from those who disagreed.

Class Sizes

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 15 January 2002, Official report, column 222W, on class sizes, if she will list the (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the Hillingdon local education authority with 31 pupils or more as at January 2001.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is as follows:
	Maintained primary and secondary schools within Hillingdon local education authority with one or more classes of 31 or more pupils taught by one teacher—January 2001
	Maintained Primary Schools:
	Belmore Primary School
	Bourne Primary School
	Breakspear Junior School
	Colham Manor Infant School
	Coteford Infant School
	Cowley Infant School
	Deanesfield Primary School
	Field End Junior School
	Harefield Infant School
	Harmondsworth Primary School
	Lady Bankes Infant School
	Minet Junior School
	Newnham Junior School
	Newnham Infant and Nursery School
	Ryefield Primary School
	William Byrd School
	Hermitage Primary School
	Brookside Primary School
	Highfield Primary School
	Rabbsfarm Primary School
	Warrender Primary School
	Cranford Park Primary School
	Ruislip Gardens Primary School
	Hillingdon Primary School
	Wood End Park Community School
	Cherry Lane Primary School
	Holy Trinity CofE Primary School
	St. Swithun Wells RC Primary School
	Botwell House RC Primary School
	Sacred Heart RC Primary School
	Oak Farm Junior School
	Grange Park Infant School
	Hillside Infant School
	Charville Primary School
	Hayes Park School
	Maintained Secondary Schools
	Evelyns Community School
	Bishop Ramsey CofE Voluntary Aided Secondary School
	Bishopshalt School
	Vyners School
	Queensmead School
	Uxbridge High School
	The Hayes Manor School
	The Douay Martyrs Roman Catholic School
	Swakeleys School
	Harlington Community School.

Teachers' Pay

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the ratio is between the average earnings of a secondary school head and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The ratios between earnings and house prices based on the average salaries (provisional) of full-time secondary head teachers in the maintained schools sector in England in March 2000, are as follows:
	
		
			 Region Salary to house price(11) ratio 
		
		
			 Surrey 1: 3.1 
			 Greater London 1: 3.6 
			 Yorkshire 1: 1.2 
			 Tyne and Wear 1: 1.2 
		
	
	(11) The house prices used are the average prices of semi-detached houses sold from January to March 2000.

Teachers' Pay

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the ratio is between the average earnings of a primary school head and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The ratios between earnings and house prices based on the average salaries (provisional) of full-time primary head teachers in the maintained schools sector in England in March 2000, are as follows:
	
		
			 Region Salary to house price(12) ratio 
		
		
			 Surrey 1: 4.3 
			 Greater London 1: 4.8 
			 Yorkshire 1: 1.7 
			 Tyne and Wear 1: 1.7 
		
	
	(12) The house prices used are the average prices of semi-detached houses sold from January to March 2000.

Teachers' Pay

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the ratio is between the average earnings of a teacher and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear (i) three and (ii) 10 years after qualification.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The ratios between earnings and house price, based on the average salaries (provisional) of full-time regular qualified teachers with three and ten years' service, who were in service in the maintained schools sector in England in March 2000, are as follows.
	
		
			   Salary to house price(13) ratio  
			 Region Qualified in 1996, with three years' service by March 2000 Qualified in 1989, with ten years' service by March 2000 
		
		
			 Surrey 1: 8.0 1: 5.8 
			 Greater London 1: 8.6 1: 6.5 
			 Yorkshire 1: 3.0 1: 2.2 
			 Tyne and Wear 1: 3.1 1: 2.3 
		
	
	(13) The house prices used are the average prices of semi-detached houses sold from January to March 2000.

Teachers' Pay

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average earnings of a teacher are in (a) Surrey and (b) London.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The average earnings (provisional) of full-time regular qualified teachers in the maintained schools sector in Surrey and London in March 2000 (latest available) were as follows.
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 Surrey 24,700 
			 Greater London 27,300

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total external spend by his Department was on private finance initiative consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Over the last four years 10 consultancy firms have been engaged to support private finance initiative projects. Total expenditure has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 986,645 
			 1999–2000 1,192,086 
			 2000–01 356,640 
			 2001–02 81,740 
		
	
	Detailed information about the average cost of each consultant could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Gibraltar

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the establishment of joint Anglo/Spanish bodies with responsibility for issues concerning Gibraltar will require the consent of the (a) Government of Gibraltar and (b) people of Gibraltar in a referendum.

Peter Hain: Discussions under the Brussels Process are aimed at overcoming all the differences between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar and at promoting co-operation on a mutually beneficial basis. The Government will stand by the commitment to the people of Gibraltar set out in the preamble of the 1969 Gibraltar Constitution.

Gibraltar

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks have taken place under the Brussels Process regarding the possibility of joint Anglo/Spanish sharing of the policing of Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: None.

Gibraltar

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the creation of a joint Anglo/Spanish body with responsibility for (a) Gibraltar's airport and (b) Gibraltar's foreign affairs will be discussed under the Brussels Process.

Peter Hain: Discussions under the Brussels Process will continue to include economic, cultural, touristic, aviation, environmental matters and the issue of sovereignty.

Gibraltar

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has for the celebration for the 300th anniversary of British presence in Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: The 300th anniversary of the British presence in Gibraltar will fall in 2004. An announcement regarding celebrations will be made at the appropriate time.

Gibraltar

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a referendum on a bilateral agreement between the UK and Spain under the terms of the Brussels Process will be called only with the consent of the Government of Gibraltar; and if a bilateral agreement between Britain and Spain under the terms of the Brussels Process will lapse if rejected by voters in Gibraltar in a referendum.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 853W.

Gibraltar

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Chief Minister of Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar most recently on 25 January. We discussed various proposals to meet his concerns, invited him to stay in close touch, and await his response.

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consulting assistance the UK is providing to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Government in implementing democratic processes.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently funds 18 UK secondees to the OSCE Mission in Macedonia, one of whose main functions is to assist the Government of Macedonia with the implementation of the Framework Agreement signed in August 2001. Since February 2001 a separate two-year project under the auspices of the Department for International Development has been helping the Macedonian Government with a comprehensive programme of public administration reform. The scope of this project was extended in October 2001 to take into account the requirements of the Framework Agreement.

Visas

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of applications for visas to the UK Embassy in Prague, have been rejected in each year since 1 January 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: The percentages of applications refused are as follows:
	2000—4 per cent.
	2001—4 per cent. 1
	1 Still awaiting December statistics.

Visas

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons have applied to the UK Embassy in Prague, for visas to (a) visit and (b) work in the UK in each year since 1 January 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: The numbers of applications received are as follows:
	
		
			  Visitors Work permit 
		
		
			 2000 1,386 63 
			 2001(14) 301 24 
		
	
	(14) The figures for 2001 are for the period January to March 2001. We only collect statistics from Prague on an annual basis. Future statistics will be collected on a financial year basis and are due to be collected during April 2002.

Visas

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons have applied to the UK embassy in Turkey for visas to (a) visit and (b) work in the UK in each year since 1 January 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of applications received at the embassy in Ankara and the consulate general in Istanbul are as follows:
	
		
			  Visitors Work permit 
		
		
			 2000 52,553 423 
			 2001(15) 10,970 164 
		
	
	(15) The figures for 2001 are for the period January to March 2001. We collect these statistics only on an annual basis. Future statistics will be on a financial year basis and are due to be collected during April 2002.

Visas

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of applications for visas to the UK Embassy in Turkey have been refused in each year since 1 January 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: The percentage of applications refused at the embassy in Ankara and the consulate general in Istanbul is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2000 3.4 
			 2001 6

Visas

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for entry visas for ministers of religion are being processed by the high commission in Nairobi; and what the status of these applications is.

Ben Bradshaw: The high commission in Nairobi have received no new applications from ministers of religion so far this year. There is, however, one unresolved application from 2001.

Zimbabwe

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the aims and objectives are of Her Majesty's Government's policies towards Zimbabwe.

Ben Bradshaw: The United Kingdom aims to promote a stable, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe.

Iraq

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives are of Her Majesty's Government's policy on Iraq.

Ben Bradshaw: Our objective is to secure full compliance by Iraq with its obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions, so allowing its reintegration into the international community. While the Iraq regime continues to refuse to co-operate with the UN, our policy is and must remain based on the imperative of containing the very real threat posed by the Iraqi regime to its own people and to its neighbours.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 884–85W, on ministerial visits, what the size of his entourage was on each of the visits; if transport was provided by (a) the RAF and (b) a commercial carrier; and where applicable, what the chartering costs were.

Jack Straw: Further to my answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 884–5W, the following gives further information about my official visits overseas since 11 September 2001.
	A detailed list of Cabinet Ministers' overseas visits for the period April 2001 to March 2002, including costs, will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.
	
		
			  Dates  Countries visited Size of entourage (officials plus security)  Means of travel 
		
		
			 12 September Belgium (Special GAC) 8 RAF HS12 
			 18 September Belgium 6 RAF HS12 
			 21 September Belgium (Extraordinary European Council) (16)3 RAF BAe1 
			 24–27 September Jordan, Iran, Israel, Egypt 15 RAF BAe1 
			 8 October Luxembourg (GAC) 10 RAF HS12 
			 17 October Luxembourg (GAC) 8 RAF BAe1 
			 17–18 October Turkey 9 RAF BAe1 
			 23–25 October USA 10 Schedule flights 
			 29 October Luxembourg (GAC) 12 RAF HS12 
			 30–31 October Poland, Russia 12 RAF BAe1 
			 9–14 October USA (UNGA) 18 Schedule flights 
			 19 November Belgium (GAC) 9 RAF HS12 
			 19–20 November Spain 13 RAF HS12 
			 21–23 November Iran, Pakistan 14 RAF VC10 
			 6–7 December Belgium (NAC meeting) 11 RAF HS12 
			 10 December Belgium (GAC) 11 RAF HS12 
			 13–15 December Belgium (Laeken European Council) (16)18 RAF BAe1 
			 21–23 January Democratic Repubic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda (17),(18)18 French Government Aircraft 
			 28 January Belgium (GAC) 12 RAF HS12 
		
	
	(16) FCO delegation
	(17) UK delegation
	(18) Joint visit with French Foreign Minister Vedrine

Special Envoys

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for special envoys to represent him on visits to (a) Latin America and (b) Asia.

Jack Straw: I currently have a special envoy of Afghanistan, Mr. Robert Cooper.
	I have no current plans to appoint other special envoys to represent me on visits to Latin America or Asia.

Immigration Appeals

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  under what (a) powers and (b) circumstances high commissions are able to delay the implementation of an appeal decision by an immigration adjudicator;
	(2)  under what (a) powers and (b) circumstances, high commissions can refuse to implement an appeal decision made by an immigration adjudicator.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no powers or circumstances under which an Entry Clearance Officer may delay unnecessarily the implementation of an appeal decision made by an immigration adjudicator. However, there are a number of steps in the appeals procedure following an adjudication. Implementation is not instantaneous. There are circumstances in which an Entry Clearance Officer can refuse entry clearance subsequent to a decision by an immigration adjudicator to allow an appeal against refusal of entry clearance. I will write separately to the hon. Member giving a detailed explanation of relevant legislation and guidance.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Contracts (KPMG)

Tom Watson: To ask the Solicitor-General what contracts her Department has with KPMG; and what the value is of each one.

Harriet Harman: My own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and Crown Prosecution Service have no current contracts with KPMG.
	The Serious Fraud Office has one current contract with KPMG, the estimated value of which is £6,000.

DEFENCE

Stolen Equipment

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment has been stolen from his Department since 1 May 1997; and what the approximate value of each item was.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 22 January 2002
	Reported cases of stolen equipment are held centrally on a summary basis and relate only to suspected theft by Crown personnel and contractors of stores and equipment, usually recorded as multiples or combinations of small value items such as tools, items of clothing, foodstuffs etc. Full details relating to each item of equipment proven to have been stolen could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a list of separately identified discrete items suspected of being stolen and with an estimated individual or collective loss value of 31,000 or more is given as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Laptop Computers (34) 76,688 
			 Night Vision Goggles 1,600 
			 Camcorder 1,260 
			 Dental Gold 12,015 
			 Propeller Blades 32,000 
			 Notebook Computer 1,000 
			 VHS Recorders (2) 1,000 
			 Engines (2) 4,162 
			 Weapon Sight 1,389 
			 Outboard Motor 1,101 
			 Thinkpad Computer 2,000 
			 Land Rover Tyres (15) 1,537 
			 Weapon Sight 1,736 
			 Binoculars (3) 1,190 
			 Land Rover and Tools 32,011 
			 Laptop Computer/CD Rom/Printer 3,485 
			 Industrial Cleaner 1,551 
			 Spare Wheels (10) 6,419 
			 Land Rover FFR 30,000 
			 Personal Computer 1,512 
			 Computer/Mouse/Keyboard 1,400 
			 Night Vision Scope 2,674 
			 Common Weapon Sight 1,424 
			 Land Rover Spare Wheels (10) 1,049 
			 Litepro Projector 4,445 
			 Litepro Projector and Computer 6,445 
			 Laptop Computer and Printer 1,449 
			 LCD Projector 4,274 
			 Operational Ration Packs (4,000) 2,755 
			 Night Goggles (2) 22,768 
			 Trailer 3,698 
			 Computer/Printer/Fax/TV/VCR 1,750 
			 Mobile Phones (4)Laptop Computer 2,000 
			 Camouflage Poles 3,500 
			 Personal Computer/printer/power unit 3,000 
			 Diesel Stove 2,918 
			 Mobile Phone 'Top-Up' Cards (400) 13,300 
			 Landrover 23,800 
			 Vauxhall Astra 1,206 
			 Motorcycle 1,915 
			 Outboard Motors (3) 3,108 
			 Electric Winch 1,772 
			 Altimeters (14) 5,142 
			 Compact Projector/VCR 1,921

Nimrod

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on spending within the budget on the Nimrod MRA4 programme; how much liquidated damages the MOD is seeking for the project's delay from BAE; what alternative means of delivering MRA4 capability are being considered; and how much longer the project is expected to be delayed.

Lewis Moonie: The budgetary data being sought by the hon. Member are contained in the Ministry of Defence's Major Road Project Report 2001 under section 2—"Project Costs", including information on the forecast receipt of liquidated damages. As to the question of further delay, the Major Project report also noted that the Department was engaged in discussions with BAE Systems over the incremental delivery of the MRA4 capability. These discussions are close to being finalised with the company. Until the negotiations have been completed, it will not be possible to be definitive about the impact, if any, on delivery.
	There are no viable alternative means of delivery the MRA4 capability. Prior to selecting the MRA4 option, an investment appraisal was conducted that considered a full range of alternatives. The findings were conclusive and confirmed the requirement for MRA4. This view has not changed.

Army Attributable Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds his Department dismissed the issue of retired officers or their widows who have continued to pay tax incorrectly on retired pay awarded since 1952 on the grounds of disability attributable to or aggravated by service in 1997.

Lewis Moonie: As I explained in my statement in the House on 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 891–902, with regard to tax exemption of Army attributable pensions, the error was uncovered by a retired Army pensioner, Major Perry. Our records show that Major Perry first raised the taxation of his service invaliding pension in December 1997. He then went through two stages of appeal at higher levels and at each his arguments were rejected. It was only when he made a further approach that the error was recognised. The issue turned on whether only Service Attributable Pensions were tax exempt or whether, as in Major Perry's case, Service Invaliding Pensions should also be exempt. At the initial appeal stages, the position with regard to the law was misinterpreted and the difference in practice between the Army on the one hand, and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force on the other, had not become apparent. It was only in 1998 that the correct legal position was recognised and action to remedy the error put in hand. The point at issue was not straightforward. The error should, however, have been recognised when Major Perry first raised his concerns and I can only reiterate our apology to him and those other Army pensioners or their spouses affected.

Army Attributable Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the investigations his Department has undertaken to ascertain the reasons for incorrect calculation of taxation under the relevant legislation of retired pay awarded to Army officers since 1952 on the grounds of disability attributable to or aggravated by service;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to identify retired officers and their widows who have continued to pay tax incorrectly on retired pay awarded since 1952 on the grounds of disability attributable to or aggravated by service; and if he will commission an independent inquiry on this issue.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has already reviewed the files of retired Army personnel and Army widows who had been in receipt of an invaliding pension; this involved some 20,000 files. When we identified the error in 1998, we provided information to ex-service and war widows' associations, who responded positively to our request to advertise the error to their members. We do not believe that there are many service personnel or their widows or widowers who have not been identified. None the less, we are keen to ensure that none has been missed. We have therefore provided details to help individuals identify if they might be affected on the MOD website. We intend to undertake national publicity shortly and we will use our service journals and other material which has a wide veterans' readership to ensure maximum coverage of this issue.
	I do not intend to commission an independent inquiry on this matter.
	The original error which allowed the taxation of Army attributable service invaliding pensions occurred in the early 1950s. At this distance, we would not expect all the relevant files to have been preserved and the Army personnel concerned will have retired and in many cases be deceased. Given the major changes to the way in which pensions are administered, over the period, I would also not expect there to be lessons of current relevance. I have, however, asked officials to assess whether there are any other pensions areas which may be similarly affected.

Asbestos

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether widows of those who have died from asbestos-related diseases will be allowed to claim relating to pre-1987 matters; how many claims he expects to be submitted; and if he will make a statement

Lewis Moonie: Claims from widows of former service men whose husbands died after being exposed to asbestos before 15 May 1987 would be barred from pursuing a claim by section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947. This legal restriction does not apply to widows of former civilian employees of the Department.
	The legal standing of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 has been challenged in the High Court in the case of Matthew v. Ministry of Defence on the basis that section 10 is incompatible with the European convention on human rights. Judgment was handed down on 22 January 2002 in favour of the claimant, but the matter will now proceed to the Court of Appeal. Until such time as a higher authority has ruled upon the case, the Department's position concerning the settlement of claims predating the repeal on 15 May 1987 of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 remains unchanged. The Ministry of Defence is not able to predict how many claims may be submitted if a court of higher authority rules against the Department.
	A war pension and associated benefits is however available for the widows of former service men whose death was attributable to their service. Such pensions are administered by the War Pensions Agency.

Gulf Veterans Illnesses

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on (a) the identification and treatment of and (b) compensation for Gulf War illness; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence nor any of his ministerial colleagues have had such discussions. However, the Ministry of Defence's Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit has a full time Gulf Health Liaison Officer based in Washington DC, working with the US Military Veterans Health Co-ordinating Board and its subcommittees. Both directly and through the liaison officer, the MOD maintains close links with the relevant US authorities, including the executive office of the President, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Veterans' Affairs on all issues surrounding the complex issue of Gulf veterans' illnesses.
	No-fault compensations for UK service personnel disabled as a result of their service is provided through the War Pension Scheme (WPS). The WPS applies to all those who have served in the UK forces and is administered by the MOD's War Pensions Agency (WPA). As at 31 December 2001, the WPA had received 1,264 claims for war pension in respect of Gulf veterans' illnesses, of which 1,086 had resulted in an award. Veterans may also be eligible for an Armed Forces Pension Scheme occupational pension and, if they have been medically discharged, this is supplemented by attributable benefits linked to the degree of disability or non-attributable benefits linked to length of service, whichever is the greater.
	The MOD has about 2,000 active notices from veterans and members of their families of their intention to claim common law compensation in respect of illness allegedly arising from the Gulf conflict. However, we have still yet to receive any writs or claims of sufficient detail to allow these cases to be taken forward.

Refurbishment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by his Department in each of the last four years.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Medical Monitoring (Afghanistan)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department has taken in order to improve medical monitoring of UK personnel deployed in and around Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The symptoms of all International Security Assistance Force personnel requiring medical attention are recorded and categorised. These data are then processed to enable the early identification of any possible health problems.

Devonport

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the latest estimated costs of construction for the Trident refit complex at Devonport Dockyard are; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 21 January 2002
	The Trident refit complex forms part of the overall Project D154 works at Devonport, which will provide new and upgraded facilities for the refitting of the Royal Navy's SSNBs and SSNs. A revised incentivised cost-sharing arrangement has recently been agreed with the dockyard owner, DML, for the overall project. The Ministry of Defence's share of costs to completion are estimated to be in the region of £638 million to £659 million excluding VAT.

Devonport

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Trident refit complex at Devonport will be completely finished and certificated for use before the arrival of HMS Vanguard; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 21 January 2002
	Not all the facilities within the Trident refit complex at Devonport are required to be available for the arrival of HMS Vanguard. There is an agreed programme in place to ensure that facilities will be brought on line as required within the overall Vanguard Class (Trident) submarine refitting programme. Each facility will be commissioned and the necessary approval obtained from the nuclear regulatory authorities to meet this programme. There is no question of a particular facility being used without the appropriate regulatory approval.

Tomahawk

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Royal Navy plans to purchase remanufactured Raytheon Tactile Tomahawk missiles; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The UK has already purchased some remanufactured Raytheon Tomahawk land attack missiles to replace those used during the Kosovo campaign. A further purchase of these missiles is planned and negotiations with the US Government are in progress. Joint UK/US studies have also established the feasibility of a horizontally launched version of the next generation of the missile, Tactical Tomahawk, although no decision on purchase of these missiles has yet been taken.

Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the technical difficulties are with the sonar upgrade to the Swiftsure and Trafalgar submarines; how much it will cost to complete the enhancement programme; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The technical difficulties associated with the sonar upgrade to the Swiftsure and Trafalgar submarines have centred on software engineering and associated signal data processing.
	The total estimated cost of the enhancement programme is £687 million.

Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Phase 2 of the Swiftsure and Trafalgar enhancement programme will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The final phase of the Swiftsure and Trafalgar update programme is in progress and enhancements are being incrementally incorporated into the latest Trafalgar class submarines. The first submarine installation of the final phase has been completed and has commenced sea trials. The final submarine upgrade fit is currently planned to be completed by 2009.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bids are being considered for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft; which companies have submitted bids; what costings have been submitted; what time scales have been proposed; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Two consortia have submitted bids for this prospective PFI programme, in response to an Invitation to Negotiate. They are: Air Tanker Ltd. comprising Cobham, Thales, Halliburton, EADS and Rolls Royce; and the Tanker and Transport Service Company Ltd. consisting of BAE Systems, Boeing, Serco and Spectrum capital. We are now in the early stages of detailed contract negotiations. When these are complete, both consortia will be invited to confirm or revise their bids. I am withholding details of their bids in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. We currently anticipate taking a formal investment decision in 2002, when we will select a preferred bidder if PFI remains the best value money solution. Contract award is scheduled for 2003 with the aim of providing the service from around 2007.

IT Software

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the compatibility of his Department's IT software with other Government agencies.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence uses a range of software, both embedded in Defence equipment and in the office environment. The majority of the software products used in the office environment are commercially available and therefore potentially compatible with those used by many other organisations both inside and outside Government. The MOD has a number of electronic connections with other Government Departments with which it conducts business, including via the Government secure intranet.

Tank Transporters

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the introduction of a fleet of tank transporters.

Lewis Moonie: The current fleet of tank transporters will be replaced with the Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) service being introduced under the private finance initiative. A full service, provided by 92 HET vehicles, will be introduced over a 12-month period beginning in 2003. In the interim the Service Demonstration phase, which commenced in December 2001, will provide assurance that all aspects of the Ministry of Defence's capability requirement have been satisfied.

Refuelling Aircraft

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the URC-138(V) communication system to be fitted to VC10 and Tri Star refuelling aircraft.

Lewis Moonie: The programme to fit tactical data link systems, including URC-138(V) terminals, to RAF refuelling aircraft is expected to be completed by the end of April 2002.

RAF Bases

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the time scale is for his review of the three RAF bases; and when he expects to announce a conclusion.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence began a Strategic Review of RAF Brize Norton, RAF Lyneham and RAF St. Mawgan in November 2001. The report is due to be completed by summer 2002, after which time, I expect to make an announcement.

Dartmoor

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Ministry of Defence notified the Dartmoor National Park Authority of plans to erect new military lookout huts on Dartmoor National Park.

Lewis Moonie: No new lookout huts are proposed at present. Two military structures were replaced on existing bases in September and December 2001. The replacements were taken in accordance with past guidance and practice, and the Dartmoor National Park Authority has confirmed that there has been no procedural failure.
	The replacement of existing look out huts around the military training area on Dartmoor has taken place three times since 1994 using the 18/84 Planning Consultation Procedure. Programmed replacements are discussed with the appropriate planning authority as much as two years in advance of requirements, before submission of formal applications under this procedure. Information consultation also takes place through the Dartmoor Steering Group and its subsidiary working party.

Dartmoor

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual outlay of the Ministry of Defence for use of Duchy land on Dartmoor for military training was in the last 12 months.

Lewis Moonie: The annual outlay of the Ministry of Defence for the use of the Duchy land on Dartmoor for military training is made up of a number of items, including liabilities under the Duchy licence and payments to other landowners. These are deemed commercial in confidence and I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 13 of Part II of the Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	Other outlay of some £50,000 to £60,000 per year on general repairs and conservation cannot be apportioned between Duchy, MOD freehold and other owners land.

Contracts (KPMG)

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has with KPMG; and what the value is of each one.

Lewis Moonie: There are currently 29 extant contracts with KPMG. The values of individual contracts are withheld under Exemption 13 (third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information; however, the total value of all of the extant contracts is around £59 million.

European Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for a central pot of European funding for the extra investment needed to achieve the Helsinki Headline Goal; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: None. Achievement of the Headline Goal is based on the principle of intergovernmental co-operation and a voluntary approach. Member states have offered national capabilities for potential EU-led operations and are now working together within the European Capabilities Action Plan to address the remaining shortfalls. The funding for any initiatives emerging from this process will be a matter for the member states involved.

European Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the relevance of the Helsinki Headline Goal in the post-11 September security environment; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) aims to enhance the ability of European nations to perform crisis management operations. The potential need for such operations remains. Many of the capabilities required by the Headline Goal would also be highly relevant in a military response to international terrorism.

Light Anti-Armour Weapon

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what budget cuts have been made to the Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon programme.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 29 January 2002
	As with other equipment, we keep under review the number of missiles for the Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon to meet our requirement. Recent analysis suggests that we may be able to reduce numbers below current assumptions, but this is subject to further work. If resources were so released, we would use them elsewhere in the Defence programme to fund other high priority equipment.

Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department intends to place in the Library the demonstration and manufacture contract for the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile with MBDA.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 29 January 2002
	The contract for the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile is currently being negotiated. We do not expect it to be concluded before the summer. I do not plan to place a copy of the contract in the Library of the House as it will be a commercial agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the company MBDA, and will be withheld in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. We do however intend publishing details of the contractual breakpoints in this contract, as stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in his statement to the House on 16 May 2000.

A400M

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department intends to place in the Library the demonstration and manufacture contract for the A400M with Airbus Military Company.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 29 January 2002
	The A400M development and manufacture contract between OCCAR (acting as agent for the eight nations participating in the A400M programme) and Airbus Military was signed on 18 December 2001 but it will not be effective until German participation receives appropriate Bundestag approval. As the contract is a commercial arrangement, and involves relations with other governments, I plan to withhold it in accordance with Exemptions one and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relate to international relations and third party's commercial confidences.

Afghanistan

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral statement given by the Secretary of State for International Development on 28 January 2002, Official Report, columns 21–36, if he will publish the terms of the Scoping Study on how to provide security across Afghanistan and begin the process of demobilisation and disarmament and the building and training of an Afghan army and police force; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: In keeping with our role as current lead nation for the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, the UK is committed to assisting the Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) as it begins the rebuilding of Afghanistan. The Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence are in the process of jointly commissioning a scoping study on security sector reform in Afghanistan, to be carried out in consultation with the AIA, the UN and other international partners. Its terms of reference are being finalised, and I will place a copy in the Library of the House in due course.

Afghanistan

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment was made of the provisions of articles 41 and 42 of the United Nations Charter before the military conflict in Afghanistan was begun.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	Following the terrorist outrages on 11 September 2001, the Security Council adopted Resolutions 1368 (2001) on 12 September 2001 and 1373 (2001) on 28 September 2001, which condemned international terrorism. The latter imposed a series of measures to combat international terrorism in accordance with Article 41 of the Charter.
	Military operations against the al-Qaeda organisation and the Taliban regime which supported it were undertaken in the exercise of the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence, recognised in Article 51 of the Charter, to avert the continuing threat of attacks from that source. This right of self-defence was reaffirmed in Resolutions 1368 and 1373.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Disabled People

James Gray: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what steps the Committee is taking to ensure that deafness and hearing loss are not barriers in contacting hon. Members.

Marion Roe: None. This is not the responsibility of the Administration Committee. However during the last Parliament the Committee considered a report of an audit by the RNID disability consultancy on the services and facilities provided in the Palace for deaf and hard of hearing people. Following that review a number of improvements were made. The House of Commons Information Office also advertises the fact that it welcomes calls via Typetalk.

Disabled People

James Gray: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what training the Committee has initiated for hon. Members and their staff in sign language and lip speaking.

Marion Roe: None. However I understand that in the past both the House authorities and voluntary organisations have offered seminars on providing services to constituents with disabilities. The Employers' Forum on Disability, to which the House authorities subscribe, has produced a publication called the MPs' Guide on Disability. This includes brief guidance on communicating with lip readers and communicating via an interpreter with a sign language user. Copies are available from the Department of Finance and Administration.

Disabled People

James Gray: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what plans the Committee has for providing (a) Braille translation facilities, (b) Braille typing facilities, (c) text phone availability and (d) text answer phone supply for hon. Members.

Marion Roe: None. This is not strictly a matter for the Committee. I understand that in the past Members with certain disabilities have benefited from additional facilities and equipment. Following the Resolutions of the House of 5 July 2001, a proportion of the new General Services Budget is available to meet certain extra costs incurred in making adjustments to the working conditions of Members with disabilities, or in providing special equipment. This could include the provision of special telephone equipment or Braille equipment, and training in its use.

Disabled People

James Gray: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what steps the Committee is taking to make methods of contacting hon. Members available to those people who are hard of hearing or visually impaired, known to these communities.

Marion Roe: None, this is not the responsibility of the Administration Committee. However the Department of Finance and Administration is able to advise on disability issues including methods of communication, and individual Members may publicise their willingness to receive BT TextDirect and RNID Typetalk calls.

Disabled People

James Gray: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what plans the Committee has for promoting the RNID Typetalk service with hon. Members.

Marion Roe: None. RNID Typetalk is a free service which relays conversations between people who use textphones and people who use voice telephones; Members do not need a dedicated telephone number in order to receive Typetalk calls.

Passes

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when she will publish rules on the criteria by which individuals may hold 28A Lobby, other Press Gallery, and other House of Commons passes.

Marion Roe: holding answer 29 January 2002
	Authorisation and control of House of Commons passes is the responsibility of the Sergeant at Arms who I understand intends to carry out a review of the qualifications associated with the various pass categories. Once the review is completed, I expect the Serjeant at Arms to report to the committee, and to publish details of any changes to the criteria for entitlement that are made as a result of the review.
	The committee continues to endorse the recommendations of the Second Report of the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), 1987–88, "Access to the Precincts of the House" (HC580), which contains guidelines on the availability of passes.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Insolvency

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on the unit cost of administering bankruptcy and compulsory liquidation cases.

Melanie Johnson: As at the end of the last financial year, 31 March 2001, the unit cost of case administration by the Insolvency Service had increased by 9 per cent. This was principally the result of the direct costs of a new IT system implemented in 1999–2000, which accounted for 5.1 per cent. and the costs of implementing major IT change; the consequent training programme contributed significantly to the remainder.

Fireworks

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to record the number of incidents and nature of damage to property caused by different types of fireworks.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 January 2002
	We have no plans. Damage to property is a matter for the Home Office.

Enron

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will suspend Arthur Andersen accountants from Government contracts until the US Senate Committee investigation into Enron is completed.

Brian Wilson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 23 January 2002, Official Report, columns 913–14W.

Household Products

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to control the levels of toxicity used in household products; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 22 January 2002, Official Report, column 744W.

Regulations

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received regarding the impact of regulations on smaller businesses.

Nigel Griffiths: I regularly discuss the impact of regulation with SMEs and their representative bodies, including the Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business.
	During a visit to Brussels next month, I am hosting a small business:europe event to champion the cause of SMEs in the fight against red tape. In light of this, I have written to all Small Business Council members (who advise on small business policy) and other SME stakeholders seeking their assistance in compiling a strong case with which to press their case with Commissioners and MEPs.
	Furthermore, the DTI review has strengthened the fight against red tape by giving regulatory responsibility to the chair of the Small Business Council.

Regulations

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the extra costs to pension funds of draft regulations on fixed term workers.

Alan Johnson: A regulatory impact assessment (RIA), detailing the costs and benefits of the draft Fixed Term Employees' (Prevention of less favourable treatment) Regulations, was published on 21 January this year and a copy is in the Library of the House. The RIA estimates the benefits to employees and costs to employers of preventing discrimination against fixed term employees as regards access to occupational pension schemes at £33–97 million, with some additional administration costs that it has not been possible to estimate. This figure does not take into account that, in some cases, employers will be able to objectively justify excluding fixed term employees from occupational pension schemes where they are unlikely to benefit.

Rural Post Offices

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to grant additional funds to keep open rural sub-post offices threatened with closure under Consignia's strategic plan; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 24 January 2002
	Consignia has submitted no such strategic plan. In addition to the £2 million fund to support volunteer and community initiatives to maintain or re-open post office facilities in rural areas where traditional services would otherwise close, the Government are committed to providing transitional financial assistance to rural post offices. Advice received at the end of last year from the Postal Services Commission on transitional financial assistance to the rural network is currently under consideration.

BCCI

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how much was incurred in costs by the English liquidators' staff, and what the legal fees were for the trial of the stigma issue involving the former employees of BCCI;
	(2)  how much was made in loan recoveries by the English liquidators from the former employees during 2000 and 2001; and what the costs incurred by the liquidators' staff and their solicitors in the same period were in relation to such loan recoveries and litigation of employees' claims.

Melanie Johnson: The Department does not hold such information. These are matters for the liquidators of the company.

BCCI

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the creditors of BCCI will receive the next dividend payment.

Melanie Johnson: This is a matter for the liquidators of the company.

Enterprise Bill

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she plans to introduce the Enterprise Bill.

Melanie Johnson: Proposals for an enterprise Bill were included in the Queen's Speech at the start of this parliamentary Session. The Government's proposals were then set out in two White Papers "Productivity and Enterprise: A World Class Competition Regime" and "Productivity and Enterprise: Insolvency—A Second Chance", published on 31 July 2001.
	The Government will introduce a Bill as soon as parliamentary time permits.

South West RDA

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money the south-west RDA spent on advertising the South West in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 2000–01.

Alan Johnson: The first year of operation for the south-west RDA was 1999–2000. In 2000–01 the RDA spent approximately £30,000 on advertising the south- west. In that year the RDA also spent approximately £93,000 on inward investment promotion and publicity, targeted at attracting foreign-owned businesses to the south-west.

European Competition Investigations

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many investigations have been launched by the European competition authorities into companies headquartered in (a) the UK, (b) France and (c) Germany in the past five years.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 30 January 2002
	This information is not available in the form requested.

Energy Generation

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress towards more environmentally friendly energy generation.

Brian Wilson: The Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit have recently undertaken a strategic review of the UK's energy policy including the longer- term role for renewable energy. The Government's work on developing environmentally friendly energy generation has continued throughout this period with several new initiatives being implemented to ensure the development of renewable sources of energy and cleaner coal technology.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, we shall shortly be implementing the Renewables Obligation. In addition, renewables generated electricity has been exempted from the climate change levy and existing Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) contracts have been protected. These measures will create a long-term market incentive for renewables worth over £1 billion per year by 2010.
	We are underpinning the obligation with direct Government funding for renewables worth over £260 million between 2001 and 2004 and within this, we are setting up an extensive capital grants programme for offshore wind and energy crops projects, initiating a major photovoltaics demonstration programme, and boosting research and development.
	We recently implemented an order to allow locational flexibility for NFFO 3, 4 and 5 projects that have not yet been commissioned. This will allow more appropriate locations to be found in order to overcome problems in securing planning permission.
	We have initiated studies of each UK region's capacity to generate electricity from renewable sources. Once all these assessments are completed, it is expected that specific regional targets for renewable energy will be adopted across the UK.
	The Government are also exploring the scope for upgrading the electricity distribution system to enable the UK's huge renewable energy resources to be exploited to the full. For example, we have commissioned an initial study of the feasibility of an underwater cable to connect parts of the Western seaboard of the UK directly to the National Grid.
	In the Cleaner Coal technologies arena, the Government are already investing £12 million over the three-year period 2000–01 to 2002–03 on research and development. We will also be publishing in the very near future the findings of the review of the case for Government support for Clean Coal Technology power plant.

TREASURY

Mental Health Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people suffered mental health problems by region, expressed as (a) a percentage and (b) the total number, ranked in descending order according to percentage figures for the latest year in which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Chris Ruane, dated 30 January 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question about how many people suffered mental health problems by region. (30589)
	Estimates of the total number of people suffering from mental health problems in different regions are not available from current statistical sources. However, estimates of the percentage of adults aged 16 to 74 years living in private households who were suffering from a range of mental health problems can be obtained from the results of a survey carried out in 2000. This survey of psychiatric morbidity among adults in private households was carried by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department of Health, the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales.
	Approximately 8,800 people from all parts of Great Britain participated in the survey that involved personal interviews, which provided assessments of a range of mental disorders. An overview of the results of the survey was published last year in the report "Psychiatric morbidity among adults Living in Private Households, 2000" by Singleton et al., which is available from The Stationery Office or can be downloaded from the National Statistics website (www.statistics.gov.uk). The report presents estimates of the proportion of people suffering from neurotic disorders (such as anxiety and depression), psychotic disorders (for example, schizophrenia and manic depression) and alcohol and drug dependence, by NHS Regional Office area in England and in Scotland and Wales.
	It should be noted that, because the assessment instruments used covered different time periods and people may have more than one disorder, it is not possible to add the figures together to give a total number of people with a mental health problem.

Inland Revenue

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to outsource distraint from the Inland Revenue to the private sector.

Dawn Primarolo: Proposals for any change in relation to distraint action by the Inland Revenue are still under consideration.

Inland Revenue

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to outsource information and advice on payments from the Inland Revenue to the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue has no plans to outsource the provision of information and advice on payments to the private sector.

Debt Collection

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures will be introduced to ensure that private companies collecting debts from taxpayers are monitored.

Dawn Primarolo: The details of any proposals to outsource Inland Revenue distraint action are still under consideration.

Public Sector Salaries

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average public sector salary is in (a) London and the south-east and (b) the north-east.

Andrew Smith: The average public sector salaries (gross weekly earnings) in London, the south-east and the north-east are as follows:
	London: £486
	South-east (excluding London): £414
	North-east: £371.
	The figures are for April 2000 from the New Earnings Survey.
	Figures for April 2001 will be published on 28 February 2002.

NATS

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will provide additional public funding to enable the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions to provide financial assistance to NATS;
	(2)  when he was advised of the concerns expressed by the CAA about the ability of the Airlines Group business plan for NATS to withstand a major incident.

Andrew Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Tax Law Rewrite

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received relating to the Tax Law Rewrite Project.

Dawn Primarolo: I am pleased to say the work of the Tax Law Rewrite Project continues to enjoy widespread support. In particular, the project's first Bill, on capital allowances, which received Royal Assent last March, has been well received by the tax community as a great improvement in clarity and accessibility.

Tax Law Rewrite

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pages of tax law have been published since the inception of the Tax Law Rewrite Project; and of that number, how many have been drafted as part of the Tax Rewrite Project.

Dawn Primarolo: The Tax Law Rewrite Project began work in 1997 on rewriting direct tax legislation. Since that time approximately 2000 pages of Finance Act legislation has been enacted, covering both direct and indirect taxes, some of which incorporate the rewrite approach. In addition, the project's first Bill, on capital allowances, which received Royal Assent last March, runs to 333 pages. The aim is that the project's second Bill, concerning employment, pension and social security income, will be published in draft later this year.

Tax Law Rewrite

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pages of tax law were in existence following the Finance Acts of (a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000; and what the projected total is for (i) 2010, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2030.

Dawn Primarolo: Tax law is enacted in annual Finance Acts. Periodically, consolidated acts are also prepared. Copies of Finance Acts and consolidated acts are available in the Library of the House.

Tax Law Rewrite

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many parliamentary draftsmen are employed on the Tax Law Rewrite Project; how many are on secondment from other Government departments; and what the standard period of secondment is.

Dawn Primarolo: There are currently six parliamentary draftsmen on secondment to the Tax Law Rewrite Project. The usual period of secondment is around two years. There are currently no draftsmen on secondment to the project from other Government Departments.

Tax Law Rewrite

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed in the Office of Parliamentary Counsel; on average how many are employed to deal with tax matters; and how many are trained in the Tax Rewrite Project.

Dawn Primarolo: I understand that there are 43 draftsmen employed in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and 21 administrative staff. Draftsmen are trained to be able to work on Bills covering any area, not specifically tax matters. The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has a total of 10 draftsmen with experience of working for the Tax Law Rewrite Project.

Tax Law Rewrite

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have for (a) simplifying tax law and (b) reducing the volume of tax law.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Government keep the whole tax system under review, acting where possible to change tax rules to minimise burdens on business while still meeting the Government's objectives for a fair and efficient tax system. We are currently consulting on a number of measures to simplify and modernise the tax system.
	(b) Simply focusing on the volume of legislation is misguided—the length of legislation is not directly related to complexity. Where we introduce new regulations we offer business and individuals practical help and support and have already introduced a substantial package of measures to help businesses, particularly small businesses, deal with Government.

Tax Law Rewrite

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what time scale was originally set for the Tax Law Rewrite Project; and if this time scale will be met.

Dawn Primarolo: The original estimate was that it would take about five years to rewrite the main primary legislation on direct tax. However, as the work of the project progressed, it became clear that it would take longer to do the job to the necessary standard, and there is general agreement that it is more important for the work to be done properly rather than quickly.

Inheritance Tax

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid to the Treasury in inheritance tax in actual terms in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on inheritance tax and plans he has for reform.

Dawn Primarolo: The yield from inheritance tax in the year 2000–01 was £2.2 billion. As to the future of the tax, I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

Tax Credits (Fraud)

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown of the type of sentences imposed on persons convicted of working families tax credit and disabled person's tax credit fraud.

Dawn Primarolo: From the introduction of tax credits in October 1999 up until 31 December 2001, 28 people have been prosecuted for making incorrect applications for working families tax credit. The table lists the type and number of different sentences imposed on those people. Some prosecutions involved people having more than one sentence imposed upon them. To date, no prosecutions have been brought against anyone applying for disabled person's tax credit.
	
		
			 Type of sentence imposed Number of sentences imposed 
		
		
			 Fines 12 
			 Conditional discharge 7 
			 Community Service 6 
			 Rehabilitation Order 1 
			 Community Punishment Orders 1 
			 Trial Continues 2 
			 In custody awaiting sentence 1 
			 Custodial Sentence 7 
			  
			 Total 37

Tax Credits (Fraud)

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions of working families tax credit and disabled persons tax credit fraud have led to (a) summary trial and (b) trial on indictment in each year since the WFTC and DPTC commenced.

Dawn Primarolo: The table shows the number of working families tax credit (WFTC) prosecutions since its introduction in October 1999. To date, there have not been any prosecutions for disabled person's tax credit. Of the 28 WFTC prosecutions heard up to 31 December 2001, 26 were summary prosecutions and two were trials on indictment. Both trials on indictment were heard in 2001.
	
		
			 Period Number of prosecutions (WFTC) 
		
		
			 October 1999 to March 2000 0 
			 April 2000 to March 2001 12 
			 April 2001 to December 2001 16

Benefits

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households are in receipt of housing benefit or working families tax credit; and what the estimated annual saving to the Exchequer in payment of housing benefit and WFTC would be from a 1 per cent. cut in the basic rate of tax.

Dawn Primarolo: It is estimated that at May 2000 there were about five million recipients of housing benefit (HB) or working families tax credit (WFTC) in the United Kingdom.
	It is estimated that, in a full year, a 1 per cent. cut in the basic rate of income tax lead to a direct reduction of about £40 million in expenditure on HB and WFTC.

Railtrack

Angela Browning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross receipts to the Treasury were of the windfall tax levied on Railtrack in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998.

Andrew Smith: holding answer 15 January 2002
	As provided for under Exemption 15 (Statutory and other restrictions) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, the Inland Revenue does not disclose the tax paid by an individual or corporate taxpayer.

Equitable Life

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable is envisaged for the completion and publication of the Penrose investigation into the origins of the problems surrounding Equitable Life.

Ruth Kelly: The timetable for the completion of the Penrose inquiry is a matter for Lord Penrose. The scope of the inquiry is broad and there is a large amount of evidence to gather and consider.

Correspondence

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for North Thanet on 7 January concerning the right to buy tobacco and alcohol abroad in the EU; what response his Department has made to the letter of formal notice sent by the EU Commission to the Government of the United Kingdom commencing infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the relevant EU directive; and if he will place a copy of that response in the Library.

Paul Boateng: I wrote to the hon. Gentleman on 30 January.

Community Sport

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to announce the conclusion of the consultation 'Promoting Sport in the Community'; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Responses to the 'Promoting Sport in the Community' consultation document have been requested by 1 February 2002. Decisions will be made as part of the normal Budget process.

Community Sport

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received supporting the option of a separate package of Inland Revenue tax relief for community amateur sports clubs; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: A number of responses to the "Promoting Sport in the Community" consultation document have been received and consultation continues until 1 February 2002.

Community Sport

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about the consultation document "Promoting Sport in the Community".

Paul Boateng: The Treasury is in regular dialogue with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Community Sport

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to change the tax position of community amateur sports clubs; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: A consultation document "Promoting Sport in the Community" was launched on 30 November 2001. It seeks views on the best way to support community amateur sports clubs that make a positive contribution to their local communities.

Community Sport

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the financial support from Government to community amateur sports clubs in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; what he estimates it will be in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Government recognise the positive contribution community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) make to their local communities. The consultation document "Promoting Sport in the Community" seeks views from interested parties before finalising decisions on the best way to support CASCs. Copies of the consultation document can be found in the House Library.

Drug Trafficking

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of staffing levels of customs officials at major airports, with particular reference to cases where immigration staff report suspected drug trafficking.

Paul Boateng: Major airports are resourced by Customs in line with identified risks. Referrals from immigration are always acted upon by Customs, where there are sufficient grounds.

Government Assets

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of assets that have been sold by (a) Customs and Excise, (b) the Inland Revenue and (c) National Savings in each year since 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The National Asset Register (July 2001, Cm 5318) provides a list of all significant asset disposals by central Government Departments and their sponsored bodies between April 1997 and March 2000.

Government Assets

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the basis is for the statement in paragraph 6.23 of Cm 5318 that the National Asset Register for the first time provides a complete list of the main assets held by central Government and their value; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: Reality—this is the first time a comprehensive list with asset values has been published.

Rent Rebate Subsidy Expenditure (Scotland)

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what formula is in place to vary the level of the Scottish Consolidated Fund to account for additional housing benefit costs as a result of disproportionate variances in rent levels by local authorities; what adjustments have been made to the Scottish Consolidated Fund and the Scottish Block Grant in each of the past five years in respect of this formula; what discussions have taken place with the Scottish Executive on this matter; and what was the outcome of these discussions.

Andrew Smith: The Statement of Funding Policy, published by the Treasury in July 2000, states that if in Scotland the actual cost of rent rebate subsidy expenditure changes at a disproportionate rate relative to changes in England, then appropriate balancing adjustments are made to the Scottish departmental expenditure limit. Details of such adjustments will be given in announcements of changes to the Scottish DEL made from time to time by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Discussions are taking place between the Treasury and the Scottish Executive on this issue.

Parliamentary Questions (PFI)

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written parliamentary questions regarding private finance initiatives have been tabled since 1 January 2000; and in answer to how many of these information has not been provided on the ground of commercial confidentiality.

Andrew Smith: Treasury Ministers have answered 27 parliamentary questions relating to private finance initiative in the period concerned. In no case was information withheld on the ground of commercial confidentiality.

Customs Fraud

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to paragraph 21 of the judgment of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) Regina v. Patel Villiers, Sewell, Hutchinson and Ford, Cases 2000 02566, 2000 02589, 2000 02591, 2001 02259 and 2001 03772, for what reason Customs and Excise did not take action earlier to protect public revenue.

Paul Boateng: A key approach of the Customs National Investigation Service (NIS) to tackling diversion frauds between 1995 and 1998 was to allow fraudsters to move goods from excise warehouses while under observation. When enough evidence was obtained the perpetrators would be arrested. However, an unavoidable consequence of this investigative method was that unrecoverable arrears of duty could build up during the course of the investigation.
	In their report on "Losses to the Revenue from Frauds on Alcohol Duty", published on 19 July 2001, NAO noted that
	"Even with the benefit of hindsight, it is difficult to determine whether a policy of greater disruption of alcohol diversion frauds between 1995 and 1998 would have led to a lower level of revenue loss".
	The handling of alcohol duty loss cases has been the subject of an independent investigation, commissioned by the Paymaster General. This was headed by John Roques, an ex senior partner of Deloitte and Touche. The report contained 65 recommendations to improve controls and the way that fraud is tackled in Customs. Mr. Roques concluded that there are circumstances where it is constructive and useful to observe the fraudulent movement of goods.
	In some cases the NIS conducted retrospective investigations ie after the fraud had been stopped. The Villiers case was a retrospective investigation

Customs Fraud

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Judgment of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in Regina v. Patel, Villiers, Sewell, Hutchinson and Ford, if it is the intention of HM Customs and Excise prosecutors to seek a retrial of the appellants; what the policy of HM Customs and Excise is on the disclosure of evidence; what procedures are in place to discipline those officers who failed to disclose evidence; what the total cost to public funds to date of the criminal proceedings is; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: It is the intention of HM Customs and Excise to seek a retrial of the appellants in the case of Villiers and others. The Villiers judgment spoke of a failure on the part of the Crown to disclose material (para 54 of the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Regina v. Patel, Villiers, Sewell, Hutchinson and Ford) as opposed to any failings on the part of individual officers. There is no suggestion in the judgment that individual officers wrongly withheld material from prosecution lawyers or prosecution Counsel.
	The total cost incurred by the Solicitor's Office of HM Customs and Excise (including the costs of the prosecution lawyers involved, prosecution Counsel and general office costs) is estimated to be £450,000. It is not known what costs have been incurred by the defence teams or the courts.

Customs Fraud

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures he has in place to ensure that HM Customs and Excise register and handle informants in accordance with Government guidelines.

Paul Boateng: Informants are dealt with by specifically trained officers and HM Customs and Excise are subject to the same legislation and guidelines as police forces in their handling informants.
	In addition, reviews of the way the Department carries out these activities are closely monitored by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners, National Audit Office and the Department's own internal audit division.

Customs Fraud

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to paragraph 6, part (2) of the judgment of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in Regina 24 v. Patel, Villiers, Sewell, Hutchinson and Ford, what measures he took to monitor the activities of HM Customs and Excise officers and prosecutors in relation to London City Bond; on what date he was first informed that Customs and Excise had been involved in the losses incurred by London City Bond; and how much public funds were lost.

Paul Boateng: In line with standing arrangements between the solicitor's office of HM Customs and Excise and the Attorney-General, a monthly schedule of 'sensitive' cases was generated within the solicitor's office and sent to the Attorney General's office on 14 March 2001. A number of cases which involved London City Bond were included as entries in this schedule. The Attorney-General wrote to the solicitor's office on 5 April 2001 asking for fuller details of these cases. A comprehensive note was prepared and sent to the Attorney-General on 27 April 2001. Since then, the Solicitor's Office has continued to keep the Attorney- General abreast of current developments in these cases by way of updates to the aforementioned monthly schedule.
	The Chancellor was first informed of the issues resulting from excise diversion fraud in June 2000. The Paymaster General announced an independent inquiry later that month and the full details of the losses were then published in July 2001 in the Roques report.
	HM Customs and Excise Trust Statement for 1999–2000, published in February 2001, was certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General and provided details of the estimated revenue losses due to excise diversion fraud of £668 million with further losses of £216 million involving goods diverted onto overseas markets where duty would have been due. Notes 9 and 10 to the Trust Statement, which was published with Customs annual report 1999–2000 (CM 5064), gave further details.

Customs Fraud

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many National Investigation Service investigations into fraudulent consignments of goods have been carried out in the last 10 years; how many such investigations are in progress; and what estimate has been made of the amount of excise duty lost to HM Customs and Excise as a result of decisions not to prosecute informers during investigations in each case.

Paul Boateng: Figures for the last 10 years are not available. Outward diversion fraud resulted from Single Market changes, which were only introduced from 1 January 1993. Customs investigated around 130 cases of outward diversion fraud between 1994 and 1998. After 1998 as a result of enhanced controls and the subsequent introduction of a strategic approach to countering fraud, patterns of fraud changed. It would not be in the public interest to reveal how many investigations into this type of fraud are in progress as this would assist fraudsters in evaluating the risk of perpetrating such frauds.
	It is not the policy of Customs to either confirm or deny the involvement of an informant in any case.

Customs Fraud

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the (a) awarding and (b) level of financial inducements to potential informants to Customs and Excise.

Paul Boateng: Section 165 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, provides that the Commissioners of Customs and Excise may, at their discretion, pay rewards in respect of any service which appears to merit it. It is not Customs' policy to disclose information about the amounts paid to informants on the grounds that this could undermine the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Customs Fraud

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to paragraph 6, part (2) of the judgment of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in Regina v. Patel, Villiers, Sewell, Hutchinson and Ford, what the policy is of HM Customs and Excise with regard to permitting warehouse owners to allow goods to leave without the payment of duty; and if he will define the reference by HM Customs and Excise in the judgment to bigger fry.

Paul Boateng: A key approach of the Customs National Investigation Service (NIS) to tackling diversion frauds between 1995 and 1998 was to allow fraudsters to move goods from excise warehouses while under observation. When enough evidence was obtained the perpetrators would be arrested. The co-operation of warehousekeepers with Customs' investigators was an essential part in this approach. As they could have become liable for duty on these consignments, some of these warehousekeepers were given either explicit or implicit indemnities against liability for the duty evaded. In some cases the NIS conducted retrospective investigations, ie after the fraud had been stopped. The Villiers case was a retrospective investigation.
	This investigative approach was examined by John Roques in his report on the Collection of Excise Duties in HM Customs and Excise. Mr. Roques concluded that there are circumstances where it is constructive and useful to observe the fraudulent movement of goods but made a three part recommendation on the subject of indemnities (Recommendation 30). This was accepted by Customs. Clearly defined authority levels for risking revenue were introduced in November 2000. A copy of the Roques report which includes the Government's response has been laid in the parliamentary Library.
	Hauliers played a key role in a number of diversion frauds. In some cases the hauliers were the principals behind the fraud, in others they played a lesser though still essential role. Where the haulier was not the principal, Customs would attempt to identify the principals in order to put as complete a case as possible before the courts. It is ultimately for the courts to determine, on the evidence presented, the respective roles of the defendants.

Taxpayer Confidentiality

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the guidelines and rules regarding the confidentiality of individuals' tax returns and tax affairs.

Dawn Primarolo: The position under successive Governments has been that the law on taxpayer confidentiality prevents the Inland Revenue from disclosing any information relating to the tax affairs of an individual taxpayer except where that disclosure is permitted by law or where the individual involved has consented to disclosure.

Taxpayer Confidentiality

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what access (a) civil servants outside the Inland Revenue and (b) Ministers have to the details of the tax affairs of individual citizens.

Dawn Primarolo: The position under successive Governments has been that the law on taxpayer confidentiality prevents the Inland Revenue from disclosing any information relating to the tax affairs of an individual taxpayer except where that disclosure is permitted by law or where the individual involved has consented to disclosure. These rules apply to civil servants outside the Inland Revenue and Ministers in the same way as to other third parties.

Gibraltar

George Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) people resident and (b) businesses users operating in Gibraltar have UK tax liabilities.

Dawn Primarolo: The requested information is not available.

Footballers

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the criteria used to determine whether proceeds from footballers' testimonial events are regarded as taxable income; and if he will extend the criteria to increase the tax liability on this revenue for full-time professional footballers.

Dawn Primarolo: If proceeds from a testimonial match are connected with the termination of a footballers' employment they are taxable if they exceed a £30,000 exemption limit.
	And if a footballer becomes entitled to a testimonial after a specific period of service to a club, or under an agreement made with the club on signing, the proceeds may be taxable in full as income from his employment.
	But if no such entitlement exists and a testimonial match is organised by a testimonial committee on the individual's behalf, rather than by the employer, the proceeds do not come from his employment, but from individuals marking their esteem for the individual's personal qualities or general contributions to the game. These payments are of a personal nature and are not therefore taxable in the same way that other gifts are not taxable.
	We have no current plans to change the tax treatment of footballers' testimonial payments. However, we keep all aspects of the tax system, including this one, under regular review.

Pension Credit

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 770W, on pension credit, 
	(1)  how many representations he has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing the marginal tax rate in the pension credit;
	(2)  how many representations he has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing the pension credit savings limit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer to the reply I gave on 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 770W, and have nothing further to add.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Prison Service

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the Prison Service's corporate plan for 2002–03 to 2004–05 and business plan and key performance indicators for 2002–03.

Beverley Hughes: The Prison Service corporate plan for 2002–03 to 2004–05 and business plan for 2002–03, which includes the key performance indicators agreed so far, has been published today and copies have been placed in the Library.

Terrorism Act 2000

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will lay before Parliament a report on the working of the Terrorism Act 2000.

David Blunkett: I am pleased to say that Lord Carlile of Berriew QC has completed the report on part VII of the Act, which relates solely to Northern Ireland, which will be laid before Parliament today. A full report will be published later this year.

Lewes Prison (Drug Testing)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe) of 10 January 2002, Official Report, column 1008–12W, if he will make a statement on the percentage of prisoners tested positive in random mandatory drug tests at HMP Lewes.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 22 January 2002
	The rate of positive random mandatory drug tests (MDT) at Lewes prison for each of the months given in the answer of 10 January 2002 is shown in the table:
	
		
			 2001 Average population Rate of positive MDT (%) 
		
		
			 January 411 27.3 
			 February 414 18.1 
			 March 445 10.0 
			 April 446 30.4 
			 May 435 40.0 
			 June 443 36.4 
			 July 471 37.5 
			 August 478 30.0 
			 September 471 25.0 
			 October 468 24.0 
			 November 467 32.0 
			 December 474 33.3 
		
	
	MDT data from September 2001 are provisional and subject to validation.

Court Proceedings

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) criminal prosecutions, (b) either-way case prosecutions, (c) summary only prosecutions and (d) indictment only prosecutions there were in each of the last 10 years.

Keith Bradley: The following table provides the available information, extracted from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, which relates to the number of defendants proceeded against in each of the years 1991 to 2000 in England and Wales.
	Statistics for 2001 are not yet available.
	
		Defendants proceeded against for various categories of offences, -- England and Wales, 1991 to 2000
		
			   Defendants proceeded against for:  
			 Year Total defendants proceeded against Triable either way offences Summary offences Indictable only offences 
		
		
			 1991 1,955,917 462,362 1,466,860 26,695 
			 1992 2,029,910 462,000 1,539,633 28,277 
			 1993 1,956,271 449,632 1,477,463 29,176 
			 1994 1,947,165 466,772 1,449,839 30,554 
			 1995 1,836,307 434,091 1,372,786 29,430 
			 1996 1,919,494 432,558 1,454,817 32,119 
			 1997 1,855,333 454,432 1,368,632 32,269 
			 1998 1,951,915 477,465 1,441,418 33,032 
			 1999 1,881,765 479,917 1,369,072 32,776 
			 2000 1,904,677 457,203 1,412,855 34,619

Convictions

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of criminal cases in (a) Crown court on indictment, (b) Crown court either-way case, (c) magistrates court either-way case, (d) magistrates court summary only and (e) in total, resulted in a conviction in the last five years for which figures are available.

Keith Bradley: The following table provides the available information, extracted from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, which relates to the number of defendants proceeded against in each of the years 1996 to 2000 in England and Wales.
	
		Number and percentage(19) of defendants convicted for the various categories of offences, England and Wales, 1996 to 2000
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1996   
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for indictable only offences 11,438 73 
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for triable either-way offences 55,288 81 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for triable either-way offences 231,896 54 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for summary offences 1,135,088 78 
			 Total defendants convicted(20) 1,433,710 75 
			
			 1997   
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for indictable only offences 11,456 73 
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for triable either-way offences 59,425 81 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for triable either-way offences 247,351 54 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for summary offences 1,063,308 78 
			 Total defendants convicted(20) 1,381,540 74 
			
			 1998   
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for indictable only offences 11,642 70 
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for triable either-way offences 47,814 77 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for triable either-way offences 280,524 59 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for summary offences 1,125,505 78 
			 Total defendants convicted(20) 1,465,485 75 
			
			 1999   
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for indictable only offences 11,561 69 
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for triable either-way offences 43,300 75 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for triable either-way offences 285,524 59 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for summary offences 1,064,111 78 
			 Total defendants convicted(20) 1,404,496 75 
			
			 2000   
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for indictable only offences 11,312 67 
			 Defendants convicted at the Crown court for triable either-way offences 42,578 74 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for triable either-way offences 269,867 59 
			 Defendants convicted at magistrates courts for summary offences 1,095,680 78 
			 Total defendants convicted(20) 1,419,437 75 
		
	
	(19) Percentage of those proceeded against at magistrates courts or of those for trial at the Crown court.
	(20) Excludes juveniles convicted of indictable offences at magistrates courts and defendants convicted of summary offences at the Crown court.
	Note:
	Statistics for 2001 are not yet available.

Either-way Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 20 most common triable either-way offences in the past year; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: The following list provides the twenty most common triable either-way offences based on the number of defendants proceeded against in England and Wales in 2000 (statistics for 2001 are not yet available) extracted from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database. They relate to the principal offence for which a person was proceeded against, if dealt with for more than one offence at the same time.
	Triable either-way offence
	Theft from shops and stalls
	Absconding by person released on bail
	Assault occasioning actual bodily harm
	Other theft (not separately classified)
	Possession of cannabis
	Non-aggravated burglary in a dwelling
	Non-aggravated burglary other than in a dwelling
	Affray
	Receiving stolen goods
	Obtaining property by deception
	Criminal damage not endangering life
	Theft from the person of another
	Possession of offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse
	Wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm
	Theft from motor vehicle
	Dangerous driving
	Possession of heroin
	Aggravated vehicle taking (excluding death)
	Undertaking or assisting in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods, or arranging to do so
	Violent disorder.

Sex Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to take action to make it an offence for an adult to deceive minors into exposing themselves; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: This whole area is one which we are looking at very carefully as part of our consideration of the recommendations for new sexual offences proposed in "Setting the Boundaries", the report of the Sex Offences Review. The review proposed a new offence of adult sexual abuse of a child, including
	"inciting or compelling a child to carry out a sexual act".
	We are currently considering the large number of responses to the public consultation process on the Review document.
	We view with serious concern those who seek to use children for their own gratification and tackling this abhorrent behaviour is a top priority for this Government. We will ensure any gap is filled.

Sex Offences

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish proposals for sex offence law reform; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: We are currently considering how to change existing sex offences in light of the recommendations made to Government in "Setting the Boundaries" and the more than 700 responses that were received during the consultation period. We will be bringing forward legislation when parliamentary time allows and will publish a summary of our proposals in the Library as soon as possible.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about plans for the Holocaust Memorial Day 2002.

Angela Eagle: A national event was held in Manchester on the evening of Sunday 27 January attended by a wide audience including senior public figures, Holocaust survivors, community representatives and students.
	A wide range of activities took place around the country organised by local authorities and community groups. They were encouraged to put details of their activities on the dedicated website www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk.
	Many schools used the new Holocaust education resource pack in the week leading up to Holocaust Memorial Day to mark the day in appropriate ways.
	Media coverage of the day and the related events was extensive and mainly positive.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how local authorities are marking Holocaust Memorial Day.

Angela Eagle: A wide range of activities took place around the country organised by local authorities and community groups. They were encouraged to put details of their activities on the dedicated website www.holocaustmemorialday.gov.uk. There were over 160 known events, involving at least 80 local authorities.

Departmental Expenditure (Publications)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last four years.

Angela Eagle: The cost of newspapers, magazines and periodicals purchased centrally was as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 161,108 
			 1999–2000 187,685 
			 2000–01 151,865 
			 2001–02 138,527 
		
	
	Estimates of purchases within individual business units of the Home Office are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Suicides (Young Offenders)

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides were attempted in each young offenders institution in each year since 1996.

Beverley Hughes: Available data are shown in the table. Figures are collected in respect of self-harm (which covers all acts of self-injury, however serious) and self-inflicted deaths: there is no separate definition of "attempted suicide". Figures in respect of self-injury from 1998 and in respect of self-inflicted deaths for the entire period are age related rather than location based because many young offenders are not located in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). The definition of self-harm and recording practices are under review.
	
		Self-harm incidents recorded in YOI establishments
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 1996 99 
			 1997 114 
		
	
	
		Self-harm incidents reported in establishments in England and Wales by age category between 1 January 1998 and 30 November 2001
		
			 Year Juveniles (15–17) Young Offenders (18–21) Total 
		
		
			 1998 252 746 998 
			 1999 205 825 1,030 
			 2000 288 1,069 1,357 
			 2001(21) 366 1,201 1,567 
			  
			 Total 1,111 3,841 4,952 
		
	
	(21) Year 2001 figures up to 30 November 2001
	
		Self-inflicted deaths
		
			  Juveniles (15–17) Young Offenders (18–21) Total 
		
		
			 1996 1 11 12 
			 1997 0 9 9 
			 1998 3 11 14 
			 1999 1 13 14 
			 2000 3 13 16 
			 2001 3 10 13 
			  
			 Totals 11 67 78

Suicides (Young Offenders)

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the number of attempted suicides in young offenders' institutions.

Beverley Hughes: A proactive strategy is in place to reduce suicide and self-harm in prison and make prisons safer for all who live and work there. The strategy target areas of greatest risk, recognising that prisoners under 21 years of age are especially vulnerable, whether or not located in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). Feltham YOI and Eastwood Park, which holds young women offenders, are among five prisons selected as pilot sites for the installation of safer cells, first night support centres, crisis suites and cells that enable staff to monitor at risk prisoners. Other initiatives, which focus on the early period in custody, include physical improvements to reception and induction areas and removal of ligature points.
	The Prison Service is bidding for funds to provide an extra 860 safer cells in 16 YOIs. The under 18 age group will additionally benefit from the Prison Service's joint working with the Youth Justice Board, which is investing £1 million this financial year on safer cells. Work is also in hand on developing an effective cell sharing assessment tool; developing peer and outside support schemes suitable for young people; reducing violence and bullying; and improving identification and assessment of at risk young people and their care plans.

Immigration

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time has been in the last 12 months for which figures are available for decisions to be made on immigration applications from (a) work permit holders, (b) people with UK ancestry, (c) EEA nationals and their families, (d) spouses, (e) fiancés and fiancées and (f) asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The table provides the information requested on asylum seekers for the period of October 2000 to September 2001, inclusive. The average decision times have been calculated using all initial decisions made for which data are available, including a minimal number of cases decided under the backlog criteria, as well as new cases. These data are subject to revision following quality checking.
	
		Average time to initial decision(22),(23), initial decisions made -- October 2000 to September 2001
		
			   Months(24),(25),(26) 
		
		
			 October 2000 to September 2001 14 
		
	
	(22) The average length of time (in months) is calculated from date application is lodged to the date of initial decision, and relates to the month in which the decisions were made.
	(23) Figures are estimates based on cases for which information is recorded.
	(24) Based on data from A-CID (Asylum Cases Information Database).
	(25) Excluding dependants.
	(26) Provisional figures.
	We do not routinely publish processing times for individual types of general and settlement applications. We aim to decide all straightforward applications within three weeks, although at present it is taking up to eight weeks. This is due to the exceptionally high number of applications received in 2001, especially in recent months, and process changes which are being introduced to improve our longer term performance. We are working to reduce this to three weeks as soon as possible.

Immigration

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target waiting times for immigration applications are used in respect of (a) work permit holders, (b) people with UK ancestry, (c) EEA nationals and their spouses, (d) fiancés and fianceés, (e) spouses and (f) asylum seekers; what proportion of cases have met the waiting time targets in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: We aim to decide 70 per cent. of all new general and settlement application within three weeks, and met this for the first half of 2001. We do not generally prioritise specific categories of application other than for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals where, under European Community (EC) legislation, we have to deal with any application for a residence permit within six months. During 2001 such cases were on average dealt within three-four months. Regrettably at present it is taking up to eight weeks to decide new straightforward applications due to the exceptionally high number of new applications received during 2001, especially in recent months; and process changes that are being introduced to improve our longer term performance. We are working to reduce this timescale to three weeks or less as soon as possible.
	The asylum decision target for 2001–02 is to make 60 per cent. of initial decisions in new substantive cases within two months of the date of application. We intend to publish provisional figures indicating progress over the first half of the year with the quarterly asylum statistics bulletin on 28 February 2002.

Women Prisoners (Wales)

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 786W, on women prisoners, (a) for what crimes the 169 female prisoners were committed to prison in Wales, (b) how many had reoffended, (c) in what prisons they were placed and (d) how many spoke Welsh as their first language.

Beverley Hughes: The table of the 169 women committed by courts in Wales and who were in the prison population on 30 November 2001, shows a breakdown by (a) offence and (b) establishment. Data on whether or not these women have been imprisoned after a reconviction are collected, but would take a few weeks to process. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend with the information. Data on the languages spoken by prisoners are not collected centrally, and so cannot be provided.
	
		Females committed in Wales to prison by offence type and establishment
		
			  Number committed 
		
		
			 Offence type  
			 Drug offences 32 
			 Other thefts 22 
			 Wounding 21 
			 Robbery 17 
			 Burglary 14 
			 Arson 9 
			 Handling stolen goods 7 
			 Murder 6 
			 Offence not recorded 6 
			 Manslaughter 5 
			 Other motoring offences 5 
			 Frauds 5 
			 Other criminal offences 4 
			 Assaults 4 
			 Cruelty to children 4 
			 Other homicide or attempted homicide 2 
			 Threat/disorderly behaviour 1 
			 Criminal damage 1 
			 In charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs 1 
			 Perjury/libel/perverting the course of justice 1 
			 Affray 1 
			 Other offences of violence against the person 1 
			  
			 Total 169 
			   
			 Establishment  
			 Foston Hall 11 
			 Durham 3 
			 Eastwood Park 66 
			 Brickhill 2 
			 Winchester 2 
			 Bullwood Hall 4 
			 Highpoint 14 
			 Styal 28 
			 Send 2 
			 Drake Hall 17 
			 Downview 4 
			 East Sutton Park 1 
			 Morton Hall 3 
			 Low Newton 2 
			 New Hall 7 
			 Askham Grange 2 
			 Cookham Wood 1 
			  
			 Total 169

Work Permits (Shortage Occupations)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants, broken down by category, have been admitted under the fast track scheme for shortage occupations in information technology since 1 October 1999.

Angela Eagle: The number of work permits approved under the shortage occupation category for information technology occupations since 21 January 2000 is 20,292. This is the date that information technology occupations were first included on the work permit shortage occupation list.

Work Permits (Shortage Occupations)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis Oracle database administration was included on the list of shortage occupations for the purposes of the fast track work permit scheme.

Angela Eagle: Oracle database administrator was included on the work permit shortage occupation list following consultation with representatives from the information technology communications and electronics sector and other Government Departments.

Work Permits (Shortage Occupations)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the employment market data used to inform the fast track work permit scheme for shortage occupations is (a) accurate and (b) up to date.

Angela Eagle: The Home Department consults regularly on relevant and current labour market issues with other Government Departments and representatives from those sectors of industry that are included on the work permit shortage occupation list.

Work Permits (Shortage Occupations)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data were used to compile the list of shortage occupations in information technology for the purposes of the fast track work permit system.

Angela Eagle: Regular consultation with a panel of representatives from the information technology communications and electronics sector and other Government Departments provides up-to-date information on the information technology labour market. This allows the Department to make informed decisions about the compilation of the work permit shortage occupation list.

Keith Hellawell

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the responsibilities and salary of Mr. Keith Hellawell.

Bob Ainsworth: Mr. Hellawell has been engaged to work part-time, initially to support the work being undertaken to assist the European Union (EU) applicant countries prepare the necessary drug strategies and related infrastructure to meet drug-related requirements of EU membership.
	Details of individual special adviser salaries below £90,000 are not disclosed to protect the individual.

People Trafficking

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for people smuggling offences in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The available information, from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table. These data cover proceedings under the Immigration Act 1971 sec. 25(1) (a), (b) and (c) as amended by the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 Sec.5.
	Statistics for 2001 are not yet available.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already indicated his intention to increase the maximum penalty for these offences to 14 years, and a range of further measures are under consideration.
	
		Persons proceeded against and convicted at all courts for offences under the Immigration Act 1974 sec. 25 (1) (a), (b) and (c) -- England and Wales 1996 to 2000
		
			 Offence description Principal statute 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000(28) 
		
		
			  Proceeded against(27)
			 Knowingly concerned in making or carrying out arrangements for securing or facilitating the entry into the UK of anyone whom he knows or has reasonable cause for believing to be an illegal entrant Immigration Act 1974 sec. 25(1)(a) as amended by Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s.5 153 173 193 233 199 
			
			 Knowingly concerned in making or carry out arrangements for securing or facilitating the entry into the UK of anyone whom he knows or has reasonable cause for believing to be an asylum claimant Immigration Act 1974 sec. 25(1)(b) as added by Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s.5 (29)— 4 4 20 11 
			
			 Knowingly concerned in making or carrying out arrangements for securing or facilitating the obtaining by anyone of leave to remain in the UK by means which he knows or has reasonable cause for believing to include deception Immigration Act 1974 sec. 25(1)(c) as added by Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s.5 (29)— 4 13 11 12 
			
			 Total  153 181 210 264 222 
			
			 Found guilty(27)   
			 Knowingly concerned in making or carrying out arrangements for securing or facilitating the entry into the UK of anyone whom he knows or has reasonable cause for believing to be an illegal entrant Immigration Act 1974 sec. 25(1)(a) as amended by Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s.5 123 130 115 150 145 
			
			 Knowingly concerned in making or carry out arrangements for securing or facilitating the entry into the UK of anyone whom he knows or has reasonable cause for believing to be an asylum claimant Immigration Act 1974 sec. 25(1)(b) as added by Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s.5 (29)— — 3 6 3 
			
			 Knowingly concerned in making or carrying out arrangements for securing or facilitating the obtaining by anyone of leave to remain in the UK by means which he knows or has reasonable cause for believing to include deception Immigration Act 1974 sec. 25(1)(c) as added by Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 s.5 (29)— 1 5 6 11 
			
			 Total  123 131 123 162 159 
		
	
	(27) Figures provided are on the principal immigration offence basis
	(28) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.
	(29) Not applicable.

Firearms Consultative Committee

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the life of the Firearms Consultative Committee.

John Denham: The life of the Firearms Consultative Committee will be extended for a further period of two years from 1 February 2002.

Student Visas

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average period of time taken to process a visa application from a person seeking to study in the UK was in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	We do not record separate statistics on processing times for visa applications received from students. They are included in the visitors category.
	Straightforward applications from students and other visitors would normally be processed within 24 hours. During 2001 on average 94 per cent. of straightforward applications received were processed within 24 hours.

Student Visas

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications made by those hoping to study here have been turned down in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of student visa application refused are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 9,309 
			 1998 9,654 
			 1999 11,503 
			 2000 20,105 
			 2001 (30)6,005 
		
	
	(30) The figures for 2001 are for January–March 2001. We collect these statistics only on an annual basis. Future statistics will be on a financial year basis and are due to be collected during April 2002.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from wives of United Kingdom citizens to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom have been waiting over the target time of three weeks at the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: We aim to decide 70 per cent. of all new general and settlement cases within three weeks and met this for the first half of 2001. Information on the number of applications from wives of United Kingdom citizens for indefinite leave to remain which were not decided within this time scale is not available.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the senior appointments made by his Department to executive and advisory NDPBs in 2001 and give their (a) name, (b) previous job, (c) political affiliation, (d) sex and (e) ethnic origin.

Christopher Leslie: The names of women and men serving as chair and deputy chair of all non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are set out in the annual publication "Public Bodies", copies of which can be found in the Libraries of the House; other personal data are not disclosed except for ethnicity and then only in summary form.
	During 2001 only one senior appointment was made by a Cabinet Office Minister to a non-departmental public body sponsored by Cabinet Office. In February 2001, Mr. John Sheldon was appointed by the Parliamentary Secretary as deputy chair of the Civil Service Appeal Board.
	In addition, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in his capacity as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, made the following senior appointments:
	Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside
	Mr. Michael Cresswell JP—Chair
	Mr. E. Gordon Hubert—Chair
	Mrs. Anne Sykes JP—Chair
	Mrs. Joanne Brown JP—Chair.

Civil Defence Grants

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what increase in civil defence grants has been made following the events of 11 September.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller), on 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 891W.

Ministerial Visits

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the visits he has made abroad on behalf of Her Majesty's Government since August 2001; what the objective of each visit was; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of each trip.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Mr. Collins) on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 36W.

People's Panel

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what decision has been made with regard to the People's Panel following the expiry of the contract with MORI.

Christopher Leslie: We believe that the People's Panel has been influential in demonstrating the value of establishing the views of citizens and the users of public services in policy-making and service delivery.
	Since the People's Panel was set up in 1998, Government Departments and agencies have improved greatly in their efforts to consult with their customers, and to assess satisfaction with the services they provide.
	Therefore, we have taken the decision that there is no longer a need for the Cabinet Office to carry out this function centrally, when it can be done more effectively by Departments, agencies and local services as part of their mainstream policy development and service delivery.

Social Exclusion

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he intends to take to enhance the delivery of Government measures to tackle social exclusion in deprived and low-income areas; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
	The Prime Minister launched "A New Commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal National Strategy Action Plan" in January 2001. The national strategy is a long-term initiative which aims to deliver neighbourhood renewal—the process of delivering real change to England's most deprived neighbourhoods. The Government's vision is reflected in their long-term goal: to narrow the gap between deprived neighbourhoods and the rest, so that within 10 to 20 years, no-one should be seriously disadvantaged by where they live. It aims to deliver this by enhancing the delivery of economic prosperity, safe communities, high quality schools, decent housing, and better health to the poorest parts of the country.
	The national strategy requires a change in the way we approach main Government programmes to ensure they focus on deprived areas. The strategy is being spearheaded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, a cross-cutting unit based in DTLR and staffed by officials from across Whitehall and the public sector, with secondees from the private and voluntary sectors.

PRIME MINISTER

Ministerial Visits

Michael Ancram: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 January 2002, Official Report, columns 87–89W, on ministerial visits, what the size of his entourage was on each of the visits; if transport was provided by (a) the RAF and (b) a commercial carrier; and where applicable, what the chartering costs were.

Tony Blair: The information requested is included in the detailed list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas and information on expenditure by all Ministers on travel overseas. The list for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the (a) cost and (b) effectiveness of the Department's advertising campaign on pension awareness.

Ian McCartney: The pensions education campaign promotes the Government's aim to combat poverty and promote security and independence in retirement for future pensioners. The campaign encourages future pensioners to save for their retirement where they can afford to, and provides impartial information on their pension options to help them make informed decisions.
	Changing attitudes towards planning for retirement is not a straightforward task and will take time. We are planning to continue pensions education activity.
	However, results so far are encouraging. The campaign has provoked almost 900,000 responses and almost 1.2 million information guides have been sent out. Awareness of the campaign is increasing.
	The cost for the campaign from April 2000 to December 2001 is approximately £9.3 million. This cost includes campaign development; press, cinema and TV advertising; research and evaluation; the costs of running our information order line; website development; printing leaflets and other campaign materials.

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the implied annual uplift is in gross state retirement pensions for qualifying deferment of payment (a) under present arrangements and (b) under future planned modifications of the system; what current annuity rates are; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Entitlement to Retirement Pension arises when a person attains pensionable age but to be entitled they have to make a claim. They can put off claiming their pension to earn increments. When they claim, each part of the pension is increased by about 7.5 per cent. for each full year of deferral.
	Currently the maximum period for deferral is five years but from April 2010 there will be no time limit and the incremental rate will increase to about 10.4 per cent. for each full year.
	Annuity rates vary according to the individual's circumstances and are not directly comparable to the increment rates for state pension purposes.

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what actions he is taking to improve access to financial advice tailored to the needs of individuals contemplating taking out stakeholder pensions.

Ian McCartney: Stakeholder pensions are a straightforward, good value, flexible product which need to adhere to certain minimum standards. These minimum standards mean that for many people less advice is necessary than that needed for personal pensions. For example the minimum standards will mean all stakeholder schemes should offer a good basic deal, and the simplification of tax rules means a single tax regime for all defined contribution pension schemes.
	As a part of the minimum standards, all stakeholder pension scheme providers are required to provide, within the charge limit, information about the scheme and additional explanatory material. This will help individuals to decide whether a stakeholder scheme would be a good option for them.
	We recognise that some people will need further advice. The Financial Services Authority (FSA), which regulates promotion and advice, has produced 'decision trees' to help individuals work through key questions on whether or not to join a stakeholder scheme, without necessarily requiring full individual advice. It has issued a consultation paper this month explaining how it proposes to keep them accurate and up-to-date.
	In some cases there may be a need for individual- specific advice. Scheme providers may give this advice within the charge. It is also open to scheme providers to charge an additional fee for individual advice, or for individuals to seek advice, for a charge, from an independent financial adviser.

Employer Direct

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 43W, on call centre services, what the expected cost is of the Employer Direct modernisation programme in years (a) six, (b) seven and (c) eight of the eight year contract.

Nick Brown: Employer Direct is part of the overall investment in modernisation and service improvement by the employment service. The different elements are all interdependent and it is not therefore possible to separate the cost of Employer Direct. The modernisation programme is being delivered under an eight-year contract costing £816 million in total and £346 million over years six, seven and eight of the contract. These costs include the existing services already provided to the employment service by the contractor.

StepUp Programme

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the StepUp Programme announced on 28 November 2001; what progress it has made; and what plans there are to extend it to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Nick Brown: holding answer 28 January 2002
	StepUp, which will be launched in April, builds on the llNew Deals by providing transitional jobs to act as a stepping stone for long-term unemployed people moving from benefits into work.
	Officials are currently working on the detail of the pilots in readiness for the April launch. The first six StepUp pilots will start in April in parts of Cardiff, East Ayrshire, Lambeth, Oldham, Sheffield and Sunderland. A further 14 pilots, including one in Coventry, South, will start throughout the rest of the year. We will thoroughly evaluate the pilots before any decision is taken about a national roll-out of StepUp.

Disabled People

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent measures he has taken to increase opportunities for disabled persons seeking employment.

Nick Brown: We have introduced a range of measures to help people with disabilities secure work where they are ready and able to do so.
	Our new deal for disabled people pilots helped over 8,200 disabled people into work. Building on that success we now have in place a national network of job brokers.
	We are making work possible for people with disabilities by removing benefit barriers and allowing people to take part in work trials and work placements. We are making work pay through the disabled person's tax credit and the national minimum wage.
	Jobcentre Plus offers disabled people making new or repeat claims to benefit work-focused meetings with a personal adviser so as to ensure they are aware of the help and opportunities available to them.
	From autumn this year we are introducing the job retention and rehabilitation pilot. It will test how making better co-ordinated, earlier health or employment interventions can help people stay in work and off benefits.

Jobcentre Plus

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had on developing an environment less conducive to confrontation in Jobcentre Plus offices; what provision for staff safety has been made other than the presence of security guards; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 24 January 2002
	The process of designing the new Jobcentre Plus service has focused on creating an environment that offers improved customer services, more pleasant working conditions and enhanced staff safety.
	In designing both office layout and the service experienced by customers, the emphasis has been on eliminating the waiting times, queueing and referrals between offices, which can cause customer frustration and, very occasionally, confrontation. Evidence from the ONE pilots and from other countries suggests that such an approach has a direct and positive bearing on levels of disruptive customer behaviour.
	The new model of service being delivered in Jobcentre Plus offices involves increased telephone contact facilities, booked appointments, dedicated floor managers in every office, nominated personal advisers, swifter benefit assessment while customers look for work and a major investment in IT to help in the jobsearch process.
	Full risk assessments have been carried out in every Jobcentre Plus office and all of their individual recommendations implemented. In addition to security guards, where these have been recommended, safety measures implemented as a result of risk assessments include installation of closed circuit TV cameras and monitors, provision of discrete safety alarm systems, controlled segregation of staff areas via coded door locks and design of office layout to maximise safety.

Jobcentre Plus

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review staff safety issues at Jobcentre Plus offices; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The importance of ensuring staff safety has underpinned the development of Jobcentre Plus at every stage. The improved customer services and environment of the new offices are both designed to reduce frustration among the small number of potentially aggressive customers. This has been underpinned by substantial investment in enhanced security measures such as CCTV, safety alarms and an improved security guard specification.
	Full risk assessments were carried out in every office before the service opened to the public in October. Enhanced security measures identified as necessary by those assessments were implemented without exception.
	All of the initial risk assessments are now being individually reviewed to take into account each office's experience of delivering the new service in practice and any additional recommendations will be implemented in full.

Performance Standards

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what performance standards he has set his Department and its agencies for 2002–03.

Nick Brown: Performance Standards for 2002–03 will be announced shortly.

Benefit Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many persons convicted of benefit offences have received (a) custodial sentences, (b) community sentences and (c) other sentences since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The requested information is not available in respect of housing benefit fraud.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		Sentences on successful prosecution following investigations by the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service and Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service
		
			  Custodial sentences(31) Community sentences(32) Other sentences(33) Deportation Total sentences 
		
		
			 1997–98 363 2,505 8,832 — 11,700 
			 1998–99 448 2,259 7,531 — 10,238 
			 1999–2000 458 2,178 6,469 19 9,124 
			 2000–01 526 2,667 8,210 — 11,403 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Imprisonment, Young Offenders Institute, Custodial and Fine
	2. Community Service
	3. Conditional Discharge, Compensation only, Admonishment, Fined, Probation, Supervision Order, Imprisonment suspended, Attendance Centre, Custodial (suspended) and fine, Other

Urban Regeneration

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are managed by his Department; how much each scheme has available to invest nationally; what issues each scheme aims to tackle; and how much has been spent annually since 1997 (a) nationally, (b) in Teesside, (c) in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils and (d) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.

Nick Brown: All the programmes run by the Department contribute to the Government's overarching commitment to provide employment opportunity for all, to tackle social exclusion and poverty and to improve economic growth in urban and other areas. Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones are two specific initiatives that operate in predominantly urban areas of high unemployment. For information about these initiatives, nationally, in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 359W.
	There is also an Action Team in Stockton-on-Tees. This started work in October 2000 and in its first year of operation engaged 799 clients and helped 457 of them into work. The team is now operating in the following wards in the Stockton-on-Tees local authority area: Charltons; Grange; Hardwick; Marsh House; Mile House; Newtown; Northfield; Parkfield; Portrack and Tilery; Roseworth; St. Aidan's; St. Cuthbert's and Wolviston. It has been allocated £1.475 million for the period October 2001-March 2004.

Benefits Agencies

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on proposals to remove protective screens from Benefits Agencies in the Teesside area; what consultation was carried out with Benefits Agency staff in Teesside about proposals to remove protective screens from Benefits Agencies; if he will make a statement on (a) recent and (b) possible future strike action taken by Benefits Agency staff in Teesside in protest at the removal of screens from benefits agencies; and what precautions will be taken to protect the safety of Benefits Agency staff concerned about dealing with violent or disturbed customers in the event that protective screens are removed from Benefits Agencies.

Nick Brown: The Benefits Agency and Employment Service will cease operations from 1 April 2002. They will be replaced by two new organisations—Jobcentre Plus (for people of working age) and the Pension Service. There are no plans to remove protective screens from Benefits Agency offices in Teesside, during the remaining life of the Benefits Agency.
	There are 56 Pathfinder offices for Jobcentre Plus already in operation, operating within 16 clusters. None are in the Teesside area. These new-style Pathfinder Jobcentre Plus offices are predominantly unscreened though each cluster of Pathfinder offices retains at least one screened area or office to handle transactions or customers known to present a significant risk. The reaction of staff and customers to the new offices has been overwhelmingly positive and the level of recorded incidents of unacceptable behaviour extremely low. New-style Jobcentre Plus offices will be rolled out nationwide over the next four years though no decisions have yet been taken as to when offices in Teesside will be redesigned. As part of the implementation of the new style Jobcentre Plus offices, trade unions and staff will be consulted on delivery plans and safety arrangements and full risk assessments will be undertaken in each office as has been the case in the Pathfinder offices which are already open.
	The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has regrettably taken strike action against plans to deliver Jobcentre Plus services from a predominantly unscreened environment. PCS asked their members in the Benefits Agency field organisation and the Employment Service to take strike action on 12 and 13 December 2001. In Teesside all Benefits Agency and Employment Service offices remained open to the public on these days.

Benefits Agencies

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of man-hours his Department has lost as a result of the industrial action by the PCS Union.

Nick Brown: Of our 100,000 staff, some 28,000 took strike action for two days in December. In the Pathfinder offices some 28 per cent. are on strike (on 85 per cent. strike pay).
	As a result, approximately 1.1 million staff hours have been lost up to and including 17 December 2001. The staff hours lost represents some 2.2 per cent. of the total hours expected to be worked.

New Deal (Publicity Costs)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the breakdown of the costs of the publicity campaign for the new deal for lone parents.

Nick Brown: A breakdown of costs is available only for the last financial year 2000–01 which was £2,292,000 advertising and media and £295,000 other costs.

New Deal (Publicity Costs)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent in the last 12 months on (a) television advertisements, (b) radio advertisements, (c) newspaper advertisements, (d) internet advertisements and (e) leaflets or pamphlets relating to the promotion of the 50-plus;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on (a) television advertisements, (b) radio advertisements, (c) newspaper advertisements, (d) internet advertisements and (e) leaflets or pamphlets relating to the promotion of the new deal for disabled people in each year since its inception;
	(3)  how much his Department has spent on (a) television advertisements, (b) radio advertisements, (c) newspaper advertisements, (d) internet advertisements and (e) leaflets or pamphlets relating to the promotion of the new deal for young people in each year since its inception;
	(4)  how much his Department has spent on (a) television advertisements, (b) radio advertisements, (c) newspaper advertisements, (d) internet advertisements and (e) leaflets or pamphlets relating to the promotion of the new deal for lone parents in each year since its inception;
	(5)  how much his Department has spent on (a) television advertisements, (b) radio advertisements, (c) newspaper advertisements, (d) internet advertisements and (e) leaflets or pamphlets relating to the promotion of the new deal for the long-term unemployed in each year since its inception;

Nick Brown: Information is not available in the format requested and it would involve disproportionate cost to answer.

New Deal (Publicity Costs)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of his Department's budget for the next 12 months has been allocated to promotion of (a) the new deal 50-plus, (b) the new deal for disabled people, (c) the new deal for lone parents, (d) the new deal for the long-term unemployed and (e) the new deal for young people.

Nick Brown: In the current financial year the following sums have been allocated to the new deal programmes.
	
		
			 Programme Allocation (£ million) 
		
		
			 New deal 50-plus 1 
			 New deal for disabled people 1.12 
			 New deal 25 plus 0.938 
			 New deal 18–24 2 
			 New deal for lone parents 2.03 
		
	
	Allocations for the financial year 2002–03 have not yet been made.

Departmental Spending

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure was on (a) advertising, (b) polling, (c) focus groups, (d) design consultants, (e) caterers, (f) production of departmental publications and (g) photographs/photographers by his Department for each year since 1995 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; what was (A) the annual percentage increase in spending on each category and (B) spending on each category as a percentage of the total departmental running costs; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Debt Recovery

Calum MacDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the centralisation of debt recovery within his Department.

Malcolm Wicks: As part of our modernisation programme, we will be creating 10 centres across the country dedicated to the management and recovery of all overpayments. This will enable the current work, processed at 127 sites across the country, to be consolidated. Approximately 1,800 staff in total will be trained and dedicated to this complex but important area of work, providing an enhanced service for both claimants and the taxpayer.
	The centres, which will use existing DWP staff an infrastructure where possible, will be based in Chorlton, Porth, Stornoway, Nuneaton, Ashton in Makerfield, Corby, Glasgow, Dearne Valley, Bradford and Salford.
	The first debt centre will be operational from March 2002 at Chorlton, Manchester. The remainder will be on stream over the period to March 2005.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Listed Buildings

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to strengthen the role of English Heritage in protecting listed buildings; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: As stated in the Government's recent policy statement "The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future" (December 2001) the Government remain firmly committed to the maintenance of an effective framework of statutory protection for all elements of the historic environment. As part of the review of the planning system proposed in the Government's Green Paper, "Planning: Delivering a Fundamental Change", the Government will consider the role that English Heritage plays in advising local planning authorities on matters affecting listed buildings.

Listed Buildings

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many listed buildings there are in (a) the Buckingham constituency and (b) Buckinghamshire; if she will list them; and how much funding has been provided to assist in their conservation in each of the last five years.

Kim Howells: No information is held centrally on the number of buildings of special architectural or historic interest on the statutory list broken down by county or parliamentary constituency. The statutory list for the five districts of Buckinghamshire, including Aylsebury Vale (the area of the former borough of Buckingham), is available for inspection at my Department, at the National Monuments Record Library, and at each of the relevant local authorities.
	The following table shows the grants which English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund have allocated to Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years for the conservation of listed buildings in that county.
	
		£000 
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Total 
		
		
			 English Heritage (Secular) 374 195 580 486 145 1780 
			 English Heritage (Places of Worship) 127 199 109 422 276 1133 
			 English Heritage (Conservation Partnership Schemes/ Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes) 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sub-total (English Heritage) 501 394 689 908 421 2913 
			 Heritage Lottery Fund 8 0 5,028 346 353 5735 
			  
			 Total 509 394 5,717 1,254 774 8648 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures rounded up to nearest £1,000
	Comparable figures for English Heritage grants in the Buckingham constituency alone are not readily available and their accrual would be possible only at disproportionate cost. Heritage Lottery Grant figures for the Buckingham constituency are available, however, and are shown in the table.
	
		£000 
		
			  Heritage lottery fund 
		
		
			 1996–97 8 
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 5,028 
			 1999–2000 0 
			 2000–01 78 
			  
			 Total 5,114 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures rounded up to nearest £1,000

Television Licences (Prosecutions)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many prosecution statements were taken in relation to television licence fee evasion and how many prosecutions there were for television licence evasion in each of the last four years.

Kim Howells: The number of prosecution statements taken and prosecutions heard for television licence fee evasion in the United Kingdom in the last four years was:
	
		Thousand
		
			 Year Prosecution statements taken Prosecutions heard 
		
		
			 1998–99 374 98 
			 1999–2000 320 89 
			 2000–01 366 151 
			 2001–02(31) 268 104 
		
	
	(31) To December 2001

Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from what sources the (a) administrative and (b) other costs of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be met.

Kim Howells: The Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme is largely being funded by the Treasury. This Department has been asked to make a small contribution to the costs of the scheme. We have asked English Heritage to help us meet this commitment, which they have chosen to do through the redirection of £2 million in grant in aid from the Joint Places of Worship (JPOW) Scheme. Initial estimates are that the LPW scheme could be worth up to £30 million per year. There is no cap on the scheme; all listed places of worship that meet the criteria will receive a grant.

English Heritage (Grants)

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what effect shifting English Heritage grant schemes towards maintenance will have on current sources of grant aid.

Kim Howells: Government grant in aid to English Heritage will be increased by £5 million in 2002–03 and £11 million in 2003–04 to £115.5 million and £121.4 million respectively.
	It is for English Heritage to decide what priority to give expenditure on their grant schemes from the overall resources available to it from Government grant in aid, as well as from its own fund raising activities.

Sport

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the New Opportunities Fund about the planned investment in school sport; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I regularly meet representatives of the New Opportunities Fund to discuss their full range of programmes, including the new opportunities for PE and sport programme and will continue to do so to ensure their successful delivery.

Libraries (Hillingdon)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many libraries in the London Borough of Hillingdon are (a) internet-connected and (b) linked to National Grid for Learning.

Kim Howells: All public libraries connected to the internet have access to the National Grid for Learning. In the London borough of Hillingdon all 17 libraries have public internet access and therefore are linked to the National Grid for Learning.

Contracts (KPMG)

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contracts her Department has with KPMG; and what the value is of each one.

Kim Howells: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no current contracts with KPMG.

Free TV Licences (Cathcart)

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioner households in Glasgow, Cathcart are benefiting from free television licences.

Kim Howells: TV Licensing, which administers for the BBC as Licensing Authority the free television licence concession for the over-75s, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 5,000 people aged 75 or over living in the Glasgow, Cathcart constituency.

Public Bodies

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was (a) the total bill for salaries and expenses for board members, (b) the administrative operating costs and (c) the total annual budget in the latest year for which figures are available for each regional arts board in England.

Kim Howells: Information about salaries of board members to public bodies is included in the Cabinet Office's annual report, "Public Bodies". Copies of this are placed in the Library of the House and the report is published on the Cabinet Office's internet website. The next edition of "Public Bodies", which will include numbers of appointments at 31 March 2001, is shortly to be published.
	The table, supplied by the Arts Council of England on behalf of the regional arts boards contains the information requested by the hon. Member:
	
		
			 All RABs 2000–01 EEA EMA LA NA NWA SA SEA SWA WMA YA Total 
		
		
			 Income
			 Total ACE funding (incl.) 9,718,024 9,682,517 32,014,120 11,714,473 18,016,684 11,192,305 6,999,710 9,133,900 13,598,401 12,458,582 134,528,716 
			 Total Other public funding 463,201 504,501 0 1,170,225 1,032,724 583,693 451,610 285,322 543,121 487,244 5,521,641 
			 Total Other income 372,480 139,473 218,115 1,002,746 1,618,562 209,921 148,699 196,246 79,096 202,257 4,187,595 
			 Total income 10,553,705 10,326,491 32,232,235 13,887,444 20,667,970 11,985,919 7,600,019 9,615,468 14,220,618 13,148,083 144,237,952 
			 
			 Total Admin and Overheads 1,650,559 1,689,075 3,411,655 1,509,698 1,905,629 1,495,355 1,606,140 1,461,385 1,574,264 1,548,786 17,852,546 
			 Board members' expenses 2,510 3,804 1,422 7,204 — 6,368 — 1,564 — — 22,872 
			 Board members' salaries 0 0 0 0 — 0 — 0 0 — 0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for LA, NWA, SA, SEA, WMA and YA are taken from their published report and accounts for 2000–01.
	2. Figures for EEA, EMA, NA and SWA are taken from their audited accounts for 2000–01
	3. Figures for board members' expenses are given only when they are specifically detailed as such within the accounts. A nil figure is given only for Board members' salaries when this is stated in the accounts.
	Board members' expenses/salaries
	4. NA's figure is referred to as travel and committee costs in respect of the reimbursement of travel expenses incurred by seven trustees/directors. NWA make no reference to directors or board members in their R&A.
	5. SEA make no reference to directors or board members in their R&A.
	6. SWA's list as £4,021 as Board Expenses—it has been assumed that this means expenses related to board meetings, as they detail a separate amount of £1,564 as Directors' Reimbursed Expenses.
	7. WMA give a figure of £11,667 as Company Expenses, but do not detail amounts reimbursed to board members.
	8. YA's give a figure of £45,630 as Company Expenses, but make no reference to, nor give figures related to, directors or board members in their R&A.

Theft and Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what additional security measures are planned by her Department to deter and detect theft and fraud.

Kim Howells: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport have had no incidents of fraud to report in recent years but systems in place are constantly reviewed. Two recent thefts have been investigated by the police and physical security and other measures have been taken to either prevent a repeat or detect and apprehend the perpetrator. Security cover at departmental premises is 24 hours, seven days a week with closed circuit television surveillance in place. Security staff patrolling and CCTV unit placement is under review. Security risk assessments are standard practice, as is the vetting of prospective recruits. In common with other Departments, staff are encouraged to report any suspicions they may have that fraud and/or theft is taking place in the workplace.

HEALTH

Nursing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer, of 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 942–43W, on nursing care, when the evaluation of the implementation will be published.

Jacqui Smith: A report of the evaluation of the implementation of free nursing care will be available in autumn 2002.

Earnings/House Price Ratio

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the ratio is between the average earnings of a newly qualified doctor and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear;
	(2)  what are the average earnings of a nurse in (a) Surrey and (b) London;
	(3)  what the ratio is between the average earnings of a nurse with 10 years' experience and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear;
	(4)  what the ratio is between the average earnings of a newly qualified nurse and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear.

John Hutton: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The estimated average earnings of a full time (a) newly qualified grade D nurse (b) experienced grade F nurse and (c) newly qualified doctor employed in the national health service in 2001–2 is set out in the table.
	
		£
		
			   London region Fringe zone(32) Northern and Yorkshire Region(33) 
		
		
			 Newly qualified grade D nurse 20,800 19,300 17,900 
			 An experienced grade F nurse 30,000 28,600 26,300 
			 
			 Newly qualified doctor
			 Pre registration house officer (junior doctor) 25,800 24,600 24,600 
			 Senior house officer 31,900 30,800 30,500 
		
	
	(32) Fringe is derived from all staff in the earnings survey sample who receive a fringe area payment, taken to be typical of Surrey
	(33) Includes Tyne and Wear
	Source:
	Department of Health's August 2000 NHS earnings survey
	Newly qualified pre-registration house officers (junior doctors) are provided with free accommodation for their pre-registration year only.
	The Department does not collect information about average house prices.

Earnings/House Price Ratio

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio is between the average earnings of a GP and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear.

John Hutton: holding answer 30 January 2002
	For 2000–01 the intended average net income for a full-time general practitioner principal delivering general medical services is £60,655.
	The Department does not collect information about average house prices.

Violet Hardy

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the report on the death of Violet Hardy will be made public; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The work being undertaken by Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham health authority and Lambeth social services department on the report on the circumstances of the death of Violet Hardy is nearing completion. It is expected that the report will be published in the spring.

Home Helps

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the total number of pensioners receiving a visit from a local authority home help in each of the past 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of pensioners receiving home help is not collected. The table shows the total number of households receiving home help/home care during a survey week from 1992 to 2000 and the number of contact hours provided to those households. Information relating to the age of the oldest member of the household was collected between 1992 and 1998 and is also given in the table. Households may have received more than one visit during the week.
	
		Households receiving home help or home care, 1992 to 2000, England -- Survey week during septemberRounded numbers
		
			  Total number of households(34) Contact hours(35) Households where the oldest person was aged 65 or over 
		
		
			 1992 528,500 1,687,000 476,200 
			 1993 514,600 1,780,800 463,200 
			 1994 538,900 2,215,100 453,100 
			 1995 513,600 2,395,700 451,300 
			 1996 491,100 2,486,700 427,000 
			 1997 479,100 2,607,500 410,500 
			 1998 447,200 2,607,400 378,100 
			 1999 424,000 2,678,400 (36)— 
			 2000(37) 379,800 2,791,400 (36)— 
		
	
	(34) Total number of households receiving home help or home care during the survey week.
	(35) Information on contact hours relates to all households and is not available by age.
	(36) Not collected
	(37) The method of collecting this information changed in 2000 so figures for this year are not strictly comparable with previous years.
	Source:
	DH annual return HH1

Cancelled Operations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled in each of the last 10 years (a) as a total figure and (b) as a percentage of all patients treated.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table. Data on operations cancelled (for non medical reasons) on the day of admission, or on day of surgery, were not collected prior to 1994–95.
	
		Number of operations cancelled (for non medical reasons) on the day of admission, or on day of surgery, as a percentage of all elective admissions
		
			  Number of cancelled operations Number of elective admissions Cancellations as a percentage of admissions 
		
		
			 2000–01 77,818 5,474,550 1.42 
			 1999–2000 60,242 5,376,761 1.12 
			 1998–99 56,150 5,306,320 1.06 
			 1997–98 50,505 4,849,995 1.04 
			 1996–97 52,047 4,820,671 1.08 
			 1995–96 54,483 4,787,348 1.14 
			 1994–95 48,129 4,537,272 1.06 
		
	
	Note:
	Number of elective admissions are general and acute first finished consultant episodes.
	Source:
	Patients Charter returns, Common Information Core

Mental Health

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received (a) in-patient and (b) out- patient care in the mental health sector of the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The table relating to in-patient hospital care shows the estimated number of finished consultant episodes under mental illness and learning disability specialties, in England, for 1991–92 to 2000–01.
	The consultant out-patient table shows the estimated number of first out-patient attendances under mental illness and learning disability specialties, in England, for 1991–92 to 2000–01.
	
		Finished consultant episodes in NHS hospitals, under mental illness and learning disability specialties, England, 1991–92 to 2000–01
		
			  Mental illness Learning disabilities 
		
		
			 1991–92 225,950 54,370 
			 1992–93 234,170 56,960 
			 1993–94 237,620 56,400 
			 1994–95 238,220 56,880 
			 1995–96 241,800 55,710 
			 1996–97 237,370 56,690 
			 1997–98 236,000 57,690 
			 1998–99 216,110 38,710 
			 1999–2000 214,880 36,340 
			 2000–01 206,950 36,370 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data for 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 have not been grossed for coverage and have a provisional status.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	HES
	
		Consultant out-patient first attendances, under mental illness and learning disability specialties, England, 1991–92 to 2000–01
		
			  Mental illness Learning disabilities 
		
		
			 1991–92 155,150 3,050 
			 1992–93 166,690 3,880 
			 1993–94 167,780 5,230 
			 1994–95 171,380 4,660 
			 1995–96 176,150 5,500 
			 1996–97 188,110 5,630 
			 1997–98 186,910 6,270 
			 1998–99 183,250 6,490 
			 1999–2000 179,100 6,990 
			 2000–01 183,530 7,500 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH09

Coronary Care Units (Access)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum distance is a patient might be expected to travel to a coronary care unit in (a) miles and (b) minutes.

Yvette Cooper: There is no specified maximum time or distance that patients might be expected to travel to a coronary care unit. Our aim is that in time the national health service should be able to offer all heart patients fair access to the surgical and other specialist services they need in a local unit and within an acceptable time. This is why we have developed a national strategy to expand the capacity to perform heart operations.
	This capital investment programme means that we are investing £230 million in 12 schemes to provide new and bigger heart surgery facilities.
	In addition we have announced the patient choice scheme which means that from July appropriate patients who would otherwise have to wait more than six months will be able to choose to be treated in a different hospital so that they get treatment more quickly. This may involve travelling further, but only if the patient decides that is what they want to do.

Neurology

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce the (a) scope and (b) content of the National Service Framework on neurological conditions.

Jacqui Smith: The scoping event held in November with a wide cross section of stakeholders provided some very helpful material, relevant both to the scope of the National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions (NSF) and to considerations about how to develop it. The NSF project team will advise Ministers shortly about refining the scope of the NSF and identifying the specific conditions to be included. The Department expects to announce details of the scope and content of the NSF later this year.

Neurology

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out for each NHS (a) region, (b) health authority and (c) trust the (i) mean, (ii) mode and (iii) median waiting time for a first appointment to see a neurologist in each quarter for the last four years.

John Hutton: The data requested are being prepared by the Department and will be published in full shortly. Waiting times data are available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes.

Neurology

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neurologists there were in England, broken down by region, in the last five years; and how many he estimates there will be in post in the next five years.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	Our current supply projections expect an increase of around 75 trained specialists to be available to take up consultant posts in neurology by 2005, an increase of 23 per cent.
	
		Hospital medical staff within the neurology specialty by region -- As at 30 SeptemberNumber
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000  
			  All staff Consultant All staff Consultant All staff Consultant All staff Consultant All staff Consultant 
		
		
			 England 620 260 640 280 640 300 660 300 690 330 
			 Northern and Yorkshire 80 30 80 30 70 30 70 30 70 40 
			 Trent 40 20 50 20 50 20 50 20 60 20 
			 West Midlands 50 20 50 30 60 30 70 30 70 30 
			 North West 70 30 70 30 70 30 80 40 80 40 
			 Eastern 50 20 50 20 50 20 60 30 60 30 
			 London 220 90 230 100 220 100 200 100 210 100 
			 South East 90 40 90 40 100 50 100 50 110 60 
			 South Western 40 20 40 20 40 20 40 20 50 20 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Where regions are shown, staff holding appointments in more than one region are included separately in each region. The sum of regional totals therefore differs slightly from the England total and a direct comparison between England totals and regional totals is not advised.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental work force census

Acquired Brain Injury

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to improve community-based rehabilitation services for those with an acquired brain injury.

Hazel Blears: In February 2001, the Department announced a National Service Framework for long-term conditions would be developed, with a particular focus on the needs of people with neurological disease and brain and spinal injury. The NSF will try to encompass all aspects of care including rehabilitation, and ensure fair and appropriate access to these across the country.
	The Health Select Committee report on head injury rehabilitation, and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline for the initial assessment, management and first referral of patients with head injury are likely to inform the development of the NSF.

In-patient Treatment (Bedfordshire)

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give (a) the number and (b) the percentage of patients in Bedfordshire waiting over 12 months for in-patient treatment in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2001.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 3 December 2001
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Quarter 2  
			  1997–98 2001–02 
		
		
			 Total patients waiting for in-patient treatment 12.267 10,304 
			 12+ waiters 641 779 
			 Percentage of 12+ waiters 5.23 7.56 
		
	
	Source:
	KH07 quarterly return/monthly returns

NHS Dentistry (Braintree)

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists were providing NHS treatment in the Braintree district in (a) 1979, (b) 1989, (c) 1997 and (d) 2001.

Hazel Blears: The total number of general dental service dentists who carry out the majority of their work in North Essex health authority area which includes the Braintree district is shown in the table for 30 September in the years 1997 and 2001.
	Comparable data for 1979 and 1989 are not available. Before April 1990, Essex Family Practitioner Committee covered the areas of North Essex and South Essex health authorities. Data for this area are given for 1979 and 1989 and also for the later years for comparison.
	
		General dental service: number of dentists in North Essex HA and Essex HAs at 30 September(38)
		
			 Year North Essex HA North and South Essex HAs(39) 
		
		
			 1979 n/a 319 
			 1989 n/a 430 
			 1997 285 496 
			 2001 319 566 
		
	
	(38) Dentists who do the majority of their work in the area. Excludes dentists who do most of their work in other areas.
	(39) Before April 1990, Essex Family Practitioner Committee (FPC) covered the areas of North Essex and South Essex health authorities.

Public Relations Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by (a) his Department and (b) bodies for which it is responsible on external public relations consultants in each of the last four years.

Hazel Blears: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Refurbishment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by his Department in each of the last four years.

Hazel Blears: The estimate of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by the Department, its executive agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies in each of the past four complete financial years is shown in the table.
	
		
			   £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 2,290 
			 1998–99 2,023 
			 1999–2000 5,778 
			 2000–01 5,002 
		
	
	This does not include refurbishment work carried out within the national health service nor the cost of fitting out of any new properties prior to occupation.

Ambulance Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of (a) emergency and (b) non-emergency calls per year handled by each ambulance service was in (i) England, (ii) South-west England and (iii) South-east England; and what is the number per thousand population in the last 12 months.

Hazel Blears: Information for all ambulance national health service trusts, by regional office area, about the number of emergency calls received in 2000–01 that resulted in an emergency response arriving at the scene of the incident is shown in the table. The rate per thousand population is also included. Information about non-emergency calls is not available in the form requested.
	
		
			  Emergency calls resulting in an emergency response arriving at the scene of the incident(40)  
			 Ambulance NHS Trust  Thousand Rate per thousand population 
		
		
			 England 3,558 71 
			
			 Northern and Yorkshire 476 68 
			 West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance NHS Trust 172 81 
			 Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance NHS Trust 132 47 
			 Cumbria Ambulance NHS Trust 24 38 
			 North East Ambulance NHS Trust 148 105 
			 Trent 334 69 
			 South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance NHS Trust 80 61 
			 Lincolnshire Ambulance NHS Trust 59 93 
			 East Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust 195 67 
			 Eastern 328 60 
			 Essex Ambulance NHS Trust 115 70 
			 East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust 114 52 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust 99 61 
			 London 700 95 
			 London Ambulance NHS Trust 700 95 
			 South East 523 60 
			 Royal Berkshire Ambulance NHS Trust 47 58 
			 Hampshire Ambulance NHS Trust 83 50 
			 Isle of Wight Ambulance Service (NHS Trust)(41) 8 59 
			 Kent Ambulance NHS Trust 97 61 
			 Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust 27 43 
			 Surrey Ambulance NHS Trust 78 72 
			 Sussex Ambulance NHS Trust 115 76 
			 The Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust 68 52 
			 South West 291 59 
			 Avon Ambulance NHS Trust 60 59 
			 Dorset Ambulance NHS Trust 54 77 
			 Gloucestershire Ambulance NHS Trust 27 48 
			 West Country Ambulance NHS Trust 122 58 
			 Wiltshire Ambulance NHS Trust 29 47 
			 West Midlands 365 68 
			 Hereford and Worcester Ambulance NHS Trust 34 48 
			 Shropshire Ambulance Service (NHS Trust)(41) 22 50 
			 Staffordshire Ambulance NHS Trust 64 61 
			 Warwickshire Ambulance NHS Trust 27 34 
			 West Midlands Metropolitan Ambulance NHS Trust 218 94 
			 North-west 540 86 
			 Lancashire Ambulance NHS Trust 112 87 
			 Mersey Regional Ambulance NHS Trust 193 81 
			 Greater Manchester Ambulance NHS Trust 235 90 
		
	
	(40) Excludes duplicate calls to the same incidents.
	(41) Part of a community Trust
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates for 2000
	Department of Health KA34 return, Statistics Division SD2B
	Information about non emergency patient journeys and other requests for transport, together with more detailed information about response times to Government targets for all NHS ambulance trusts are contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2000–01". A copy is in the Library and available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/ public/sb0115.htm.

Essex Health Authority

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of implementing the management changes associated with the creation of the Essex health authority.

Hazel Blears: The creation of Essex health authority from 1 April 2002 is part of the national programme of implementing shifting the balance of power encompassing changes to the national health service at national, regional and local level. Taken together these changes will release £100 million of savings from reducing bureaucracy.

NHS Asset Sales

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the disposal of land and buildings and other assets deemed surplus to requirements by three star NHS trusts in England will require the consent or approval of other bodies.

John Hutton: When the national health service performance ratings for acute national health service trusts were published in September 2001, a number of earned autonomy freedoms were announced for the top performing hospitals. Three star trusts are able to retain £5 million, instead of the current £1 million, of the receipt from land sales without the need for a business case.
	In accordance with the Department's Estatecode these NHS trusts are still required to refer proposed disposals to NHS Estates who will provide an informed client overview of those disposals.

Health Cost Claim Form

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has plans to simplify form HC1, entitled Claim for Help with Health Costs.

Hazel Blears: Form HC1 has been designed to collect the information necessary to calculate a person's entitlement to help with health costs. We have no plans to amend it.

Nurses (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many nurses are employed in each of the hospitals located in Buckinghamshire health authority;
	(2)  how many nursing vacancies there are in the Buckinghamshire health authority area; and what the average figure is for each hospital trust.

Hazel Blears: Information on nursing staff in the Buckinghamshire health authority area is currently only available for 2000, this is shown in the table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS): Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by organisation and qualification within the Buckinghamshire health authority area as at 30 September 2000
		
			   Whole-time equivalents Headcount 
		
		
			 All nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 3,550 5,390 
			 Qualified 2,680 3,830 
			 Unqualified 870 1,560 
			
			 Aylesbury Vale Community Healthcare NHS Trust 660 1,120 
			 Qualified 380 610 
			 Unqualified 280 510 
			
			 Buckinghamshire HA   
			 Qualified (42)— (42)— 
			
			 Milton Keynes Community Health NHS Trust 400 520 
			 Qualified 300 360 
			 Unqualified 110 150 
			
			 Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 660 1,100 
			 Qualified 530 800 
			 Unqualified 130 300 
			
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 1,140 1,720 
			 Qualified 890 1,270 
			 Unqualified 250 450 
			
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 640 880 
			 Qualified 540 720 
			 Unqualified 100 160 
			
			 Two Shires—Northampton and Bucks Ambulance NHS Trust   
			 Qualified 40 50 
		
	
	(42) Five or less and greater than zero
	Notes:
	1. Figures exclude learners and agency staff
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten
	3. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts
	Source:
	Department of Health non-medical work force census
	Data at 30 September 2001 will be available shortly.
	For the number of vacancies, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 4 December 2001, Official Report, columns 182–83W.

Christmas-day Working

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff were required to work on Christmas day 2001 as a percentage of the normal staffing levels.

John Hutton: Information on the number of national health service staff working or required to work on Christmas day is not collected centrally.
	The Department's work force censuses collect the number of staff working for the national health service in England, once a year at 30 September 1 .
	1 The Department of Health General and Personal Medical Service (GPMS) Statistics collected the number of staff working in general and personal medical services as at 1 October between 1997 and 1999. The 2000 census and subsequent collections are as at 30 September.

Pay Beds

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will estimate the (a) gross income to the national health service provided by pay beds and (b) income net of the cost to NHS capacity of the provision of pay beds in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the extent to which the fee covers the cost of treatment in NHS hospital pay beds, with special reference to use of (a) NHS salaried staff and (b) other NHS facilities;
	(3)  how many pay beds there were in the national health service in each year since 1977;
	(4)  what percentage of beds in NHS hospitals are denoted as for private patients, broken down by (a) NHS trust (b) region and (c) for the whole of England.

John Hutton: The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of pay beds in the national health service. Laing and Buisson, who publish reviews on the independent healthcare sector, estimate that as of mid-June 2001 there were approximately 3,000 pay beds in the NHS, around 1,400 of which were in dedicated private patient units (PPUs). The remaining 1,600 beds were in ordinary NHS wards.
	There are no national estimates on the income and related costs of pay beds in the national health service. Each NHS trust is responsible for ensuring that the income received for pay beds covers the direct costs involved plus a contribution towards overheads.
	Figures for gross and net income solely for pay beds is not collected centrally. The Department does collect gross income information under the headings of 'non-NHS private patients' and 'non-NHS other'. No information is available on a net basis. 'Non-NHS patients' includes all income received and receivable for patient care services from private patients. 'Non-NHS other' includes a number of sources such as prescription charges in trusts, Road Traffic Act income (1996–97 only), amenity bed charges, income from overseas patients which are not covered by reciprocal agreements and income from the capital hip care Centre (from 1998–99).
	Totals of the gross income for these two categories for the last five financial years are shown in the table.
	
		£000 
		
			 Year  Non-NHS patients Non-NHS other 
		
		
			 1996–97 235,733 153,384 
			 1997–98 273,232 169,566 
			 1998–99 290,840 216,677 
			 1999–2000 304,826 224,187 
			 2000–01 316,627 265,953 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 1996–97 to 2000–01.

Multiple Sclerosis Drugs

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the drug companies about the cost of beta interferon;
	(2)  what progress he has made with trials to extend the availability of beta interferon to people with MS; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Discussions are continuing with the manufacturers of the four disease modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis. These discussions are dependent upon the final guidance about these drugs from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Multiple Sclerosis Drugs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with the (a) MS Society, (b) manufacturers and (c) neurologists, about options for continuing the availability of beta interferon and glatiramer within the NHS; when he expects those discussions to be concluded; and if he will make a statement concerning the timing of a trial;
	(2)  by what date everyone with MS who is eligible for beta interferon will have received these drugs under the proposed prescription plus monitoring scheme;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of how consultant (a) neurologists and (b) specialist nurses in post will cope with implementing the prescription plus monitoring scheme for beta interferon; and whether any further resources will be made available to facilitate the scheme;
	(4)  when he plans to issue the first prescriptions for beta interferon under the proposed prescription plus monitoring scheme; and if he will make an announcement on this.

Hazel Blears: Discussions are continuing with the manufacturers of the four disease modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis. These discussions are dependent upon the final guidance about these drugs from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Patient Confidentiality

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what access (a) civil servants outside the national health service and (b) Ministers have to the private medical records of individuals.

Hazel Blears: Neither Ministers nor civil servants outside of the national health service have access to the private medical records of individuals. Disclosures of information contained in medical records to Ministers and civil servants must comply with data protection, common law and human rights requirements.

Private Finance Initiative

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2001 to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Paul Holmes), Official Report, column 69W, what recent studies his Department has commissioned, undertaken and reviewed concerning the use of private finance within the national health service; and whether these demonstrate that the private finance option is better value for money when compared to the publicly funded alternative.

John Hutton: The Department internally reviews all private finance initiative projects through the business case approval system as laid out in the Department's capital investment manual. To be approved, the business case must demonstrate that, overall, the private finance option is value for money when compared to the publicly funded alternative, the public sector comparator, and that it provides improved facilities for the national health service. NHS trusts are required to monitor performance throughout the lifetime of the PFI contract.
	Because of PFI, eight major new hospitals have opened and another 15 are under construction, representing capital investment in the NHS of over £2 billion.
	The Department has commissioned no external studies into the use of PFI in the NHS.

GP Prescribing Budget

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities have advised general practitioners to suspend temporarily the prescribing of statins in order to reduce the expected overspend on the general practitioners prescribing budget.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 January 2002
	We are not aware of any health authorities offering such advice to their general practitioners. GPs should continue to prescribe medicines considered appropriate to meet the clinical needs of patients.

Gluteraldehyde

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS hospitals in England and Wales use (a) Cidex and (b) Gluteraldehyde as a disinfecting agent; what assessment he has made of the safety implications for staff and patients of its continued use; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 29 January 2002
	It is common practice within national health service hospitals to use chemicals to disinfect medical devices such as flexible endoscopes, and some surgical instruments where the device cannot be decontaminated by conventional methods which employ steam at high temperature. The most common chemical used is Gluteraldehyde, of which Cidex is a brand name. Information on which chemicals are used at individual hospitals in England is not collected centrally.
	Gluteraldehyde falls under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations and is subject to strict control and continuous monitoring at local level. An annual risk assessment is required of how this substance is being used in the clinical setting. Where operating procedures suggest that exposure risk from inhalation is high, there is a requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act to undertake environmental monitoring of the area. Monitoring is carried out by a qualified person with immediate corrective action being taken where necessary. This is included in the Controls Assurance Standards.

Whittington Hospital

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he took to ensure that no information containing sensitive personal data relating to patients at Whittington hospital, Mrs. Rose Addis, Mr. J. Scott-Faulkner and Mr. S. Hockley was processed, beyond that deliberately made public by the patients themselves.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 29 January 2002
	Responsibility for the processing of data relating to patients at the Whittington hospital rests with the hospital, subject to guidance issued by the Department. Guidance issued in March 1996 made it clear that patient consent should be sought prior to disclosing confidential information to the media and that even where patients themselves make details public, national health service bodies remain bound by patient confidentiality.

Whittington Hospital

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who (a) inside and (b) outside the NHS has had access to the patient records of Mrs. Rose Addis, Mr. S. Hockley and Mr. J. Scott-Faulkner since 20 January; whether such access was for medical purposes; and if the explicit consent of the data subject was obtained for such access.

John Hutton: holding answer 29 January 2002
	The operational procedures of the Whittington hospital are the responsibility of the hospital. Guidance issued by the Department makes it clear that all national health service bodies are expected to comply with all relevant legal requirements, including those relating to data protection and patient confidentiality.

Whittington Hospital

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the Caldicott Guardians and data protection officers are in respect of patient records at the Whittington hospital for patients Mrs. Rose Addis, Mr. J. Scott-Faulkner and Mr. S. Hockley.

John Hutton: holding answer 29 January 2002
	Dr. Norman Parker, medical director at the Whittington hospital national health service trust is the Caldicott Guardian. Mr. Leo Bremner is the data protection officer.

SNOMED

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the SNOMED clinical coding system is implemented within the NHS.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The SNOMED clinical terms first release is due at the end of January 2002 and, in the national health service, will be for implementation testing only. An evaluation and refinement programme has been funded which will examine implementation issues in both the primary care sector (the ADVENT project) and across a broad range of clinical specialities (multi-professional quality assurance—MPQA). In parallel, an implementation scoping study will address issues around costs, migration from read codes, supplier involvement, and education and training requirements in the service. This will lead to the development of a costed implementation plan for roll-out of SNOMED CT across the NHS.

Non-executive Posts (Epsom and Ewell)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the proportion of non-executive posts filled by people living in the Epsom and Ewell constituency in health authorities and trusts covering the constituency (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest available date.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The information requested is given in the table:
	
		Non-executive posts on national health service boards serving the Epsom and Ewell constituency occupied by people living in Epsom and Ewell
		
			  1997 (April) 2002 (January) 
		
		
			 East Surrey health authority 1 (6) 0 (5) 
			 Epsom and St. Helier NHS trust 1 (6) 1 (6) 
			 Surrey Ambulance NHS trust 1 (6) 1 (6) 
			 Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust 1 (6) 1 (5) 
			  
			 Total 4 (24) 3 (22) 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures in brackets give total number of non-executives on board.

Winter Deaths

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many winter excess deaths there were, by region, in each of the last 10 years (a) in total number and (b) as a percentage of the elderly population; and what recent measures the Government have taken to reduce the number of winter excess deaths.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	The information is not available as a percentage of the elderly population.
	The causes of excess winter deaths are complex but cold weather and illnesses such as influenza play an important part.
	We have introduced a programme of measures, outlined in the United Kingdom fuel poverty strategy, aimed at ensuring people, especially older people, are able to keep adequately warm at reasonable cost.
	Health professionals have been encouraged to identify cold/health related issues and raise awareness of help available.
	A "Keep Warm, Keep Well" campaign operates in England each winter which provides free booklets for the public and special literature for health professionals; a telephone helpline, and advice on how those most in need may apply for grants (such as the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme—a scheme providing grants for comprehensive packages of insulation and heating improvements for those most vulnerable to cold-related ill health); advice on benefit payments; as well as the health benefits of keeping warm.
	Influenza vaccine is offered free to everybody aged 65 and over and to those of any age who are in at risk groups, for example with conditions where their health would be at particular risk if they caught influenza. At risk groups are those with chronic heart disease; chronic respiratory disease (including asthma); renal disease,; diabetes mellitus; and immunosuppression due to disease or treatment and also to residents of long-stay residential homes or care facilities.
	In 2000–01, 65 per cent. of those aged 65 and over were immunised (the target was a minimum of at least 60 per cent., it was also the first time a target had been set).
	Final monitoring figures at the end of December 2001, show that 68 per cent. of those aged 65 and over were immunised this winter. This is 3 percentage points higher than the 65 per cent. target set at the start of the campaign.
	
		Excess winter deaths(43) by age-group and Government office region of usual residence, 1991–92 to 1999–2000, and 2000–01(44)
		
			 Age group 1991–92(45) 1992–93(45) 1993–94(45) 1994–95(45) 1995–96(45) 1996–97(45) 1997–98(45) 1998–99(45) 1999–2000(45) 2000–01(46) 
		
		
			  England, Wales and elsewhere 
			 0–64 2,740 2,120 2,120 2,200 2,900 3,040 1,700 3,100 3,770 2,300 
			 65–74 6,360 4,710 4,160 5,490 7,070 6,970 4,200 6,950 7,440 3,300 
			 75–84 13,500 9,330 9,290 9,700 14,370 17,540 7,870 16,340 16,840 8,400 
			 85+ 12,250 9,490 10,330 9,910 15,850 20,140 9,130 20,450 20,390 11,000 
			 All ages 34,850 25,650 25,900 27,290 40,190 47,690 22,900 46,840 48,440 25,000 
			
			  North-east 
			 0–64 260 160 210 130 250 130 110 90 280 100 
			 65–74 510 280 340 270 520 500 360 470 480 300 
			 75–84 930 550 630 400 650 920 530 890 1,030 600 
			 85+ 560 420 440 420 650 680 550 920 880 500 
			 All ages 2,260 1,410 1,610 1,210 2,080 2,230 1,550 2,370 2,680 1,500 
			
			  North-west 
			 0–64 430 530 330 230 630 510 280 630 420 200 
			 65–74 1,050 740 510 960 1,000 1,070 500 1,230 1,090 600 
			 75–84 2,020 1,310 1,050 1,410 2,060 2,260 980 2,600 2,060 1,300 
			 85+ 1,480 1,320 1,080 1,190 1,940 2,520 1,010 2,880 2,520 1,600 
			 All ages 4,980 3,880 2,980 3,790 5,630 6,360 2,770 7,350 6,090 3,800 
			
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 0–64 340 40 190 120 250 240 210 260 350 200 
			 65–74 800 500 620 520 820 700 480 810 680 500 
			 75–84 1,520 870 1,170 1,030 1,440 1,810 860 1,800 1,690 800 
			 85+ 1,320 1,060 1,120 1,100 1,530 1,800 910 1,890 1,900 1,000 
			 All ages 3,970 2,470 3,110 2,780 4,030 4,540 2,460 4,760 4,620 2,600 
			 East midlands 
			 0–64 260 230 240 240 170 250 130 310 350 200 
			 65–74 640 460 350 580 500 470 360 550 590 300 
			 75–84 1,150 700 900 850 1,110 1,280 700 1,560 1,270 800 
			 85+ 1,090 790 980 660 1,140 1,540 820 1,680 1,620 1,000 
			 All ages 3,140 2,180 2,470 2,330 2,930 3,540 2,000 4,090 3,820 2,200 
			
			  West midlands 
			 0–64 380 270 280 250 250 410 250 470 440 300 
			 65–74 670 520 320 600 880 740 510 750 950 400 
			 75–84 1,260 970 860 700 1,580 1,650 800 1,730 1,810 1,000 
			 85+ 1,060 830 950 760 1,460 1,740 900 1,920 2,090 900 
			 All ages 3,370 2,590 2,400 2,310 4,160 4,530 2,460 4,860 5,290 2,600 
			
			  East 
			 0–64 150 180 170 240 180 240 170 130 330 100 
			 65–74 560 400 550 560 480 710 410 640 670 200 
			 75–84 1,180 850 1,010 1,110 1,380 1,720 930 1,590 1,800 1,000 
			 85+ 1,240 940 1,220 1,090 1,830 2,320 1,030 2,440 2,070 1,200 
			 All ages 3,130 2,360 2,940 3,000 3,870 5,000 2,540 4,800 4,880 2,400 
			
			  London 
			 0–64 300 310 290 380 440 430 150 420 470 300 
			 65–74 720 560 490 530 860 870 320 670 930 300 
			 75–84 1,690 1,220 1,130 1,370 1,680 2,240 930 1,690 2,050 800 
			 85+ 1,540 1,260 1,240 1,230 1,840 2,390 1,120 2,160 2,430 1,400 
			 All ages 4,240 3,360 3,150 3,500 4,830 5,940 2,520 4,940 5,870 2,800 
			
			  South east 
			 0–64 360 160 90 220 310 420 250 370 630 300 
			 65–74 660 840 530 690 940 870 570 890 1,050 200 
			 75–84 1,790 1,360 1,340 1,330 2,230 2,770 990 2,190 2,470 1,000 
			 85+ 1,760 1,400 1,780 1,750 2,670 3,600 1,410 3,260 3,530 1,600 
			 All ages 4,560 3,770 3,750 3,990 6,150 7,650 3,210 6,710 7,680 3,200 
			
			  South-west 
			 0–64 110 120 310 280 250 300 120 230 310 300 
			 65–74 440 220 330 550 690 600 400 420 620 200 
			 75–84 1,380 850 810 920 1,320 1,830 700 1,380 1,580 500 
			 85+ 1,420 990 1,150 1,100 1,880 2,320 1,020 2,100 2,220 1,200 
			 All ages 3,350 2,180 2,600 2,850 4,140 5,060 2,240 4,130 4,730 2,300 
			
			  Wales 
			 0–64 240 200 50 200 180 120 90 230 220 200 
			 65–74 360 260 180 270 420 490 360 540 420 200 
			 75–84 610 670 420 570 920 1,050 480 930 1,090 600 
			 85+ 780 490 370 600 910 1,220 350 1,200 1,150 600 
			 All ages 1,980 1,610 1,010 1,650 2,440 2,880 1,290 2,900 2,880 1,700 
			
			  England 
			 0–64 2,590 2,010 2,100 2,090 2,720 2,930 1,660 2,900 3,570 2,100 
			 65–74 6,050 4,510 4,050 5,250 6,690 6,520 3,890 6,430 7,070 3,100 
			 75–84 12,900 8,670 8,900 9,110 13,450 16,490 7,410 15,430 15,770 7,800 
			 85+ 11,470 9,000 9,960 9,300 14,940 18,910 8,770 19,250 19,250 10,400 
			 All ages 33,010 24,190 25,020 25,750 37,810 44,850 21,740 44,010 45,650 23,400 
			
			  England and Wales 
			 0–64 2,820 2,210 2,150 2,290 2,910 3,050 1,760 3,130 3,790 2,300 
			 65–74 6,410 4,770 4,230 5,520 7,120 7,010 4,260 6,970 7,490 3,300 
			 75–84 13,520 9,340 9,320 9,690 14,380 17,540 7,890 16,360 16,850 8,400 
			 85+ 12,250 9,490 10,330 9,900 15,850 20,130 9,120 20,450 20,400 11,000 
			 All ages 35,000 25,810 26,030 27,400 40,250 47,730 23,030 46,900 48,520 25,000 
		
	
	(43) Excess winter deaths are defined by the Office for National Statistics as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).
	(44) Provisional.
	(45) Rounded to the nearest 10.
	(46) Provisional, rounded to the nearest 100.

Obesity

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adults aged over 25 years were classified as obese broken down by region, expressed as (a) a percentage of population and (b) the total number, ranked in descending order according to percentage figures for the latest year in which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 30 January 2002
	The available information is given in the table. The figures are taken from the results of the Health Survey for England for 2000, the latest year for which figures are available, in which 6,201 adults aged over 25 were interviewed. The Health Survey for England provides estimates of the underlying population figures but because of small sample size it is not possible to represent the figures as a number of the total population.
	
		Levels of obesity (body mass index over 30) of persons aged 25 years or over by region and sex -- Percentage
		
			 Regional Office area Men Women All persons 
		
		
			 Trent 24 27 26 
			 Northern and Yorkshire 25 22 24 
			 West Midlands 21 26 24 
			 North West 21 24 22 
			 North Thames 22 22 22 
			 South Thames 22 22 22 
			 South and West 23 20 21 
			 Anglia and Oxford 21 20 21 
		
	
	Source
	Health Survey for England 2000

Community Hospital, Lymington

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assistance (a) the southern NHS region and (b) the Southampton and South West Hampshire health authority are providing to New Forest primary care trust in preparing a business case for a new community hospital in Lymington;
	(2)  how many times representatives of (a) Southampton and South West Hampshire health authority and (b) the southern region of the NHS have met representatives of New Forest primary care trust to discuss the business case for a new community hospital since the beginning of November 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how he will ensure that funding commitments given by (a) the southern region of the NHS and (b) Southampton and South West Hampshire health authority regarding a new community hospital in Lymington, are met once the region and authority are abolished.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 30 January 2002
	Officials from the south-east regional office have attended project board meetings on the new community hospital at New Forest primary care trust on four occasions between November 2001 and January 2002. Representatives of the health authority attended on three occasions during the same period. Representatives of the primary care trust also attended the health authority board meeting in December 2001 where the new hospital was discussed.
	Formal commitment to revenue funding from primary care trusts is a mandatory part of the outline business case (OBC) and full business case submissions. These will not be approved unless it is included. The current Lymington Project has not yet had its OBC approved, although the levels of revenue funding agreed with Southampton and South West Hampshire health authority for the earlier project are included within primary care trust's commitments.
	All appropriate guidance and support will be provided to the New Forest primary care trust throughout this process.

Waiting Times (Somerset)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Somerset health authority area were waiting more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months, (e) 15 months, (f) 18 months and (g) 24 months for (i) heart operations, (ii) cancer treatment and (iii) hip replacements in each year since 1997; what are the latest available figures for waiting times for such operations; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the table. The latest available information is for the year 2000–01. Current waiting times for these operations will vary according to the hospital and consultant the patient is being treated by and the clinical priority of the patient.
	Somerset health authority and local NHS trusts have action plans in place to ensure that the maximum waiting time for operations is reduced to 15 months by 31 March 2002.
	
		Waiting times for waiting list and booked admissions for selected operations/diagnoses -- Patients resident in Somerset health authority, and treated in NHS Hospitals in England 1997–98 to 2000–01
		
			   0–3 months 3–6 months 6–9 months 9–12 months 12–15 months 15–18 months 18–24 months Over 24 months Not known 
		
		
			 1997–98  
			 Coronary artery bypass graft 47 48 28 28 9 4 1 0 1 
			 Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty 18 11 5 3 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Hip replacement 193 123 100 76 16 6 2 1 18 
			 Cancer 2,921 105 13 2 1 0 0 1 390 
			   
			 1998–99  
			 Coronary artery bypass graft 56 36 41 15 6 0 1 0 6 
			 Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty 27 24 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Hip replacement 187 110 146 122 32 8 2 2 22 
			 Cancer 2,741 100 11 9 3 0 0 1 442 
			   
			 1999–2000  
			 Coronary Artery Bypass Graft 19 7 16 11 7 9 0 0 108 
			 Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty 24 24 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Hip replacement 147 93 119 104 56 24 7 3 6 
			 Cancer 3,100 204 27 8 3 0 0 0 204 
			 2000–01  
			 Coronary Artery Bypass Graft 78 20 19 15 12 42 3 0 17 
			 Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty 8 9 10 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Hip replacement 144 94 104 129 111 34 15 1 4 
			 Cancer 2,912 185 21 3 7 1 0 0 204 
		
	
	Notes:
	Operation/diagnosis codes used are as follows:
	"Operations (OPCS4R codes)"
	Coronary artery bypass graft: K40-K46
	Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: K49-K50
	Hip replacement: W37-W39, W46-W48
	"Diagnoses (ICD-10 codes)"
	Cancer—C00-C97 (malignant neoplasms)
	Waiting time statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and waiting times for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment at a given point in time and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the waiting time as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	Data for 1997–98 are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data; 1998–99 to 2000–01 figures are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Correspondence

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he will answer the letters sent to him by Mr. and Ms Phillips of Fareham on 21 August and 1 October;
	(2)  when he will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Fareham on 29 November 2001, concerning the letters sent to him by Mr. and Ms Phillips of Fareham on 21 August and 1 October 2001.

Hazel Blears: A reply was sent on 29 November 2001.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Lester Report

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish a copy of the Lester report, referred to in paragraph 21 of the judgment of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in Regina v. Patel, Villiers, Sewell, Hutchinson and Ford Cases 2000 02566, 2000 02589, 2000 02591, 2001 02259 and 2001 03772.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	This internal review was made available to—and was overtaken by—the independent investigation carried out by John Roques into the collection of excise duties (the results of which were published in July 2001 as CM 5239). As a consequence there are no plans to publish it.

Northern Ireland Court Service

Barbara Follett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will publish the bilateral concordat between the Northern Ireland Court Service and the Northern Ireland devolved Administration.

Rosie Winterton: I am pleased to announce that the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor have agreed the text of the concordat between the Northern Ireland Court Service and the Northern Ireland Executive Committee. Copies of the concordat have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and the text will be available on the Northern Ireland Court Service website.
	I hope that the concordat will assist in the continued development of the fruitful and co-operative working relationship between the Northern Ireland Court Service and the Northern Ireland devolved Administration.

Defamation

Helen Southworth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he intends to consult on perceived abuses of defamation procedures.

Michael Wills: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has today written to the Law Commission asking them to undertake a scoping study to consider whether there are any problems arising from the use of intimidatory tactics, such as gagging writs and gagging letters. A copy of the terms of reference for this work has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The Law Commission will produce a short paper by the end of March 2002. It will also undertake some preliminary work with a view to a possible further scoping study on defamation and other issues arising from publication on the internet.
	Concerns over gagging writs were originally raised during the passage of the Defamation Act 1996. The Government subsequently announced that they intended to consult publicly on the perceived abuses of defamation procedures. We have since reconsidered the scope of the project, in the light of the rapidly developing case law in the field, to ensure that it deals aptly with all relevant areas of concern, including those raised by advances in electronic communication.